The turkey: a symbol of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in North America, celebrated as a day to give thanks (traditionally to God) for the harvest and all the good things in life. Families and friends come together, often traveling long distances to do so. A key part of the day is the evening meal, where the turkey takes center stage. Stuffed to perfection, it goes into the oven and emerges later, golden and roasted. But why a turkey? Why on a Thursday? And why in late November?

The period of the zodiac sign Scorpio runs from October 22 to November 21. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday after Scorpio’s reign. Astrologically, Scorpio symbolizes regeneration, transformation, and resurrection. Known for its ability to look inward and shed the old self to make way for the new, Scorpio is often associated with the metaphorical “death” of the ego and the rebirth of the higher self.

In Greek mythology, Orion was struck in the foot by a scorpion, sent by Artemis, and was later immortalized among the stars by Zeus. This link between the scorpion and rebirth connects Scorpio to the eagle (Aquila) and the phoenix—both symbols of transformation often seen in logos. The turkey, with its fan of resplendent tail feathers, serves as a metaphor for the phoenix rising from the ashes—or in this case, emerging from the oven during Thanksgiving dinner.

Thursday is Thor’s day, the day of Zeus. We find his thunderbolt (Sagitta, the luminous arrow) in the surroundings of Aquila, Zeus’ eagle. Together, they reside in Sagittarius, the constellation we currently find ourselves in within the annual cycle. And Jupiter (Zeus) is the ruling planet of Sagittarius. In short, we have a turkey that is “sacrificed” on Zeus’ day. This can only bring good things for the coming year.

Alongside the turkey, the cornucopia — the Horn of Plenty — is a common sight on the Thanksgiving table. Shaped like a hollow horn or cone, it’s filled with colorful flowers, grapes, wheat, apples, and other fruits. Why this symbol? If you look to the night sky at midnight, you’ll see Capella, the Cornucopia star in the Auriga constellation, directly overhead. And just before dinner is served, as the turkey emerges, another celestial event takes place: rising on the eastern horizon are…