As spooky season draws to a close and the orange leaves turn brown, Bentley bids the fall season goodbye in festive fashion. Hoodies, mugs, mittens, pumpkin spice galore, turkey this, turkey that...things that are themed for the season or appropriate for the weather. Yet one fall staple sticks out a little more than its November brethren: the cornucopia. It feels out of place and wacky. Admittedly, I have not seen a cornucopia at Bentley yet, but I suspect it is only time before I see it during the break as a centerpiece in a grocery store display or as a design on a tablecloth. Without further ado, let’s get into the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the cornucopia.
This characteristic funnel-shaped Thanksgiving symbol starts popping up come mid-November to remind American families the joy of giving and the importance of abundance. Yet why place so much emphasis on what looks to be a wooden tuba? Why are we depicting turkeys in 17th century apparel in the same context as these strange, handheld pantries? For that, we need to discover how the cornucopia came to be.
The interesting origin story of the cornucopia had not actually come from American Pilgrims, but the ancient Greeks. The story suggests that the cornucopia is actually the horn of an enchanted mountain goat, a goat that possessed great powers. Upon the head of the goat, rested two striking horns, the horn(s) of plenty. It was on one fateful day, where one of the goat's horns broke off and was retrieved by Zeus, the king of gods. It is said that the horn could shoot out a feast if blown into, an appealing idea that many impoverished Greeks could rally around. It was named the cornucopia, after ‘cornu,’ meaning a horn-shaped projection, and ‘copia,’ which is synonymous with 'copious' or "abundant.' Interestingly enough, the word cornucopia' also closely resembles the term "Capricornus' which more or less translates to horned goat,' and further ties into the idea that the cornucopia is but a remnant of a goat's horn. This Latin root also finds significance in the modern day thanks to the popularity of zodiac signs, namely that of Capricorn.
Yet the history and lore of this object has been oversighted to produce the plain, one-note portrayal of the cornucopia today merely a vessel for fruits and vegetables. There is so much to uncover about this Thanksgiving staple, for it really is more than how it is characterized today. It is important to remember that the example I have shared with you today is but one iteration of the cornucopia's story-there are many more interpretations out there. If your family is anything like mine, it can be hard to initiate good dinner table conversations during get-togethers. Perhaps you can start the night by teaching your family about the fascinating backstory of one of Thanksgiving's most iconic symbols this holiday season.
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