The History of the Wishbone Superstition

One of the elves working with Tom on items for his website asked Tom an interesting question that we found when reviewing the interview tapes. You see, we record our sessions with the Legendary Figures, because you never know when you have to go back and review what was said. Elves are not really great note takers, and we have found the recordings to be more dependable when it comes to getting the facts straight.

But anyways, back to the question. The following is a transcript that is between Tom the Turkey and Eugene Becklner (one of our researcher elves). Eugene asked Tom, Where did that superstition about the wishbone come from?

Tom: I cannot believe you asked me that... gobble, gobble.

Eugene: Well, I was working on these FAQ questions, and one of them was about the wishbone... I didn't mean to upset you, I was just curious.

Tom: Oh well, that's ok; you know I am a little edgy this time of year. You see, that superstition actually started many, many, man... gobble, gobble... ny years ago. Back during the times right before the Romans.

Eugene: Really, it is that old?

Tom: Yes. You see there was this group of people called the Etruscans...

Eugene: Etru...

Tom: Yes, the Etruscans. You see, they believed that fowls, like myself, were soothsayers.

Eugene: soothsayers?

Tom: Gobble, Gobble... yes... those who could tell the future. Well anyways, that is when they believed that... and this is hard for me to say... gobble gobble, that my collarbone had special powers.

Eugene: Wow... really?

Tom: Yes, and the Romans took over this thought and believed that if you would take out the bone… then two people rub it and make a wish... then each person take a side and pull... the one who... gobble gobble, got the biggest piece would get their wish. This is how it became to be called the wish bone.

Eugene: Oh... Ok, I see, hmmmmm...

Tom: Why are you looking at me like that?

Eugene: What, no... I'm not... nothing.

Tom: Yeah... Gobble, gobble... don't get any ideas.

Eugene: Tom, I would never...

Tom: Ok, well anyways... that tradition carried on throughout the years. Most people think is just an American tradition.

Eugene: Oh, yeah?

Tom: Yes, but the pilgrims actually brought that with them from England. Actually, In England they used to call it the merrythought.

Eugene: The merrythought?

Tom: Yes, because the wishbone is sometimes associated with festive holiday feasts and the thought or promise of the wish coming true.

Eugene: Oh, I see...

Tom: Yes, and even in the 1930's they used to have postcards that would show pictures of wishbones.

Eugene: Wow, so it is a pretty big custom then huh?

Tom: Yes, yes, it is... unfortunately... but you know what...

Eugene: What?

Tom: Chickens have wishbones too.

************** END OF TAPE

Resources:

http://www.luckymojo.com/wishbone.html

http://www.blurtit.com/q7623823.html

http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/why-is-breaking-a-wishbone-considered-good-luck-and-where-did-the-superstition-come-from

New Meeting Complex Completed

The Department of Elfland Security has just completed their new meeting facility located on the southern banks of Candy Cane forest at the North Pole. This facility houses the state of the art technology for communications and conferences and has a private wing dedicated to the entire Assembly of Legendary Figures.

A cocktail party was help tonight for selected guests and the facility will be opened for all starting tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

EB Returns to Easter Island

The Easter Bunny just sent in that he has just arrived back at Easter Island to get his office and factory back into production for next season. After leaving the meeting yesterday, he stopped off in Southern California (Anaheim) for a brief visit with Mickey Mouse and for negotiations on next year's Disney character candies. He stated that the factory needs a few repairs since one of the jelly bean machines was left on accidently and they have flooded one of the rooms with billons of watermelon flavored jelly beans. They are going to have to move some of these out using heavy equipment and take out one of the walls in order to get to them all. Other than that, all is well and production should be in full flow after the first of the year.

Tom Turkey and Thanksgiving Page Now On-line

The Department has established the webpage for Tom Turkey. We will be working the rest of the weekend adding information to the site. Tom is currently staying up at the North Pole with us working on putting together items and doing some research on the Internet. His page will have a Biography page, resource page, FAQ page, and some other items relating to Thanksgiving.

He is looking at some possible activities for kids to do for Thanksgiving dinner, as well as, some activities for them while they are off school for the long weekend.

He said it is easier for him to just work on it from up here with us since it is much safer for him to be up here with us doing the Thanksgiving season.

Track Santa's Flight on NORAD

Now that Santa has his webpage up, he wanted us to post a reminder to all of the kids out there who would like to track him this year. You can follow along with his flight on NORADS Santa Tracking site. Please check their website for more details. We will also post the link on Santa's resource page once we get that up on the site.

Chat with Santa Scheduled for Nov. 27, 5-7p.m.

Come chat with Santa on November 27, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Right here on www.taolf.com Santa and his elves will be on-line to take your questions and you can chat with them live from the North Pole.

The department of Elfland Security will turn on the chatting service at about 4:45 p.m. and you can will be able to connect live others in the chat room.

Come Join In!

TAOLF Meeting Minutes for November 2011 now available

As of November 2011, the Department of Elfland Security has been instructed to post all meeting minutes for The Assembly of Legendary Figures on-line. We have created a new page off of the main website that will house all of these meeting documents. You can access this page here. We also posted the minutes from the meeting that took place today in order to get the page established. You can read the November 2011 meeting minutes here.

This page will be updated after each meeting, and we will post a notice on the news feeds when there are new meeting minutes available for you to review.