The First Thanksgiving & Cats, Myths & My Personal Stories
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It is believed that the first Thanksgiving celebration happened in the year 1621 (some accounts would have it in 1777). The event was to mark the autumn harvest, and a feast was held among the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians.
Canada’s Thanksgiving
In 1859, the first national Thanksgiving was celebrated in Canada. This was the result of lobbying by the Protestant clergy, who wanted to have Canada its own version of “national day of prayer and thanksgiving.”
Today, the Thanksgiving holiday in the US is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, it is on the second Monday of October.
The First Thanksgiving
Going back to the American First Thanksgiving, the intriguing question for cat lovers is, “Were there cats loitering around and mingling with the humans?” Short answer: most probably yes.
Let us go back to history a little bit
The first recorded account of cat domestication was in Egypt around 4,000 to 12,000 years ago. At that time the main crop of the people was grain. And to prepare for the scarce and drought periods, Egyptians built huge storages for their precious grains.
However, these storages also became the favorite target of mice and rats. After realizing that wild and feral cats were good at catching (and devouring) the uncontrollable pests, the Egyptians decided to tame the felines. It was a genius solution, since cats were not interested in any cereal food.
Fast forward
In the ensuing eras where sea voyages became the trend in finding new lands and territories to conquer, and people to do commerce with, cats played another heroic role. Ships and boats that docked in ports were vulnerable to vermin pirates. And once on board, mice and rats reproduced fast. And they wreaked havoc on food supply, serious damage to the vessels’ rigging. This is in addition to the deadly plagues that they carried. Therefore, it was unthinkable for mariners and pirates alike not to have cats on board. And most probably, cats were among the few privileged passengers. They played a very huge role in every voyage.
The Pilgrims
With this background in ocean voyages, it is common sense to conclude that the Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, had some cats on board their historic boat named Mayflower. Some cat historians would guess that at least there was one calico and a tommy. What’s the proof? A woman named Kay McQuillen, who was associated with Cat Fancier’s Association, had historical evidence that not long after the Pilgrims landed, a cat gave birth to a litter of kittens.
The “squerrells” (yes, it was spelled as such then)
One historian (William Wood) specifically mentioned a critter that became one of the main nemeses of the Pilgrims, as far as their precious crops were concerned. The pesky squirrels were having their own feasts when the crops started to grow fruits. But as a blessing to the Pilgrims, the fast-producing felines did the trick.
The First Thanksgiving
Ergo, when the first harvest came and the First Thanksgiving was held, a number of cats were surely present in that festivity. It may not be historically accurate to say that turkey was on the main course, but whatever meat cooking on the grill, a good portion of it would surely go to the hard-working felines!
Myths about cats
Aside from their association with the First Thanksgiving and being the formidable mortal enemy of mice and rats, cats are the subject of many myths in the annals of human civilization.
They predict the weather
Before the modern weather forecasting came, people would consult the cats. Specifically, their eyes. When it was dilated, it would mean high tide. Mariners and fishermen depended on this. And when a cat sat by the window for a long period of time, this meant a storm was brewing.
They are the devil’s servants
Cats project a mysterious persona. And they are hard to predict. No wonder people associated them with being a collaborator with the devil. In the household where cats were around, no guardian angels would reside. Cats drove them away.
They always land on their feet
This myth persists until the present day. Although cats do have that special ability when it comes to their super quick reflex, this myth is nothing but…a myth.
They have nine lives
It is hard to trace when this myth started. But one has to think hard before they put their beloved kitty to the test.
They are nocturnal animals
One reason why cats are easily associated with darkness is the belief that they are active only during the night.
Black cats crossing your path is bad luck
This myth is very much a part of the old folklore. But even today, many people and culture still believe it. No matter how important your chore for the day is, once a black cat crosses your path you either turn back or switch to the other side of the road in a hurry.
Black death was caused by cats
When something is unexplainable, something else has to offer some explanation. Since cats’ favorite source of protein are mice and rats, and these vermin are thought to carry all sorts of diseases, cats end up as the ultimate carriers.
Sir Winston Churchill
Despite all the bad rap associated with black cats, the iconic Prime Minister of the UK was said to be fond of patting black cats for good luck. This, especially during the height of WWII.
My own personal stories of cats
Growing up, I was surrounded by cats. At one certain period, we would have at least three. And in addition to a number of other pets from our neighbors, and the stray ones, when it was mating time, the night would be filled with weird sounds coming from the dark. We could tell whether the loud meows, the guttural growls and piercing hisses were made by males or females.
And it was not unusual for some sleep-deprived neighbors to throw angry curses back into the darkness. Some neighbors were good at colorful swearing that cats would fall silent for some brief periods.
Ocean tide
Our family loved to go to the beach. And as a young boy, I was crazy about fishing by the shore. Before we headed out, we spent some time examining our cats’ pupils. If their eyes were dilated, this indicated high tide. And off we went, the best time to enjoy the high water, and more fish were coming in.
Tiny fish bone stuck in the esophagus
Our father taught us about the value of appreciating nature. This means that whatever fish I caught with my homemade fishing rod, and no matter the size, I was expected to consume it. Most often I would be catching species no bigger than my palm. And this resulted in accidentally swallowing their tiny bones. And they got stuck somewhere deep in our neck. When this occurred, our father would pick up our cat and have its paws gently run around our neck. I cannot remember anymore how effective it was.
The weird noise while staring at the ceiling
There were times when our cats would start focusing their attention high above the ceiling. And they made this very weird sound while they were at it. Our father was a little bit superstitious; he would whisper to us that some spirits or ghosts were visiting us. We believed him when he swore that cats could see things that humans could not.
So, there you go. Domesticated cats do have an important place in the history of human civilization. And they are not immune to the myth-making talents of their human friends.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, CANADA!
As we Canadians gather together to celebrate our own Thanksgiving, let us include in our prayers our dear furry friends. Who knows, without them the Pilgrims’ crop would have been decimated even during the first season. And they would be on their way back to where they came from. And no Thanksgiving would occur. No First Thanksgiving in the US, nothing of the same would be copied by the Canadians!
Do you have cat tales to tell? Please share your thoughts by clicking on the Let Me Know Your Thoughts below.
