History of the Thanksgiving Cornucopia

Happy Thanksgiving from All Seasons!

Although the United States is a young country, it is old enough to have developed traditions and stories around the national holidays. In North America, the cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving, and is set as the center piece on Thanksgiving tables all over the United States. It has an interesting history.

According to Greek legend, a goat named Amalthea--or Nourishing Goddess--suckled the Greek God Zeus with her milk. The suckling future king of the gods had unusual abilities and strength, beginning the idea of abundance. Either Amalthea broke off a horn and offered it to Greek God Zeus as a sign of reverence, or the playful child broke one off for himself, to take with him on his road to adulthood--the story differs. As a sign of gratitude, Zeus later set the goat's image in the sky, also known as constellation Capricorn. 

A cornucopia made of bread,
prepared for a Thanksgiving meal in 2005
for U.S. Navy personnel

The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat's horn overflowing with fruits and grains. Cornucopia became the most common symbol of a harvest festival. The horn-shaped container now is usually made as a basket, or made from bread, and filled with autumn foods and colors. It is also known as the Horn of Plenty. For Americans, it represents autumn and the coming of the holidays.
 



We have included a large picture of a cornucopia as a gift, that you can use as a background on your computer. Click here or on the smaller picture below to download it. 

Happy Thanksgiving from All Seasons!