When you wish upon a furcula try a snooty accent with an English accent

I thoroughly enjoy taking a good, wholesome tradition out of context. For example, if an alien arrived in late November they might see the following: We stick a large bird in the oven after filling its cavities with a mushy substance.

Once the bird is browned, we slice it up to eat and make sure to save a single bone so that we can gather with a friend or loved one, grab it and break it apart, and hope that some supernatural power makes the larger piece’s owner aspiration come true.

But if I just said “let’s do the wishbone!” it wouldn’t sound very weird or gruesome, right?

Assuming, dear reader, that you are a bit of a wishbone aficionado, I will also assume that you know that you can’t partake in the tradition right away. The bone itself must dry out to get that good “snap” which correlates to many smiles of children who are already making their Christmas lists.

But do you know why it must dry out? And why the turkey has it and we don’t? While you’re waiting for evaporation this holiday season, feel free to impress friends and family with some of the following amazing facts about a simple bone.

The wishbone has a real name, and it is great to say. Furcula. Practice it in a snooty accent so you sound extra educated this year. Try things like, “Say, ol’ chap, is the furcula cured and ready?” The furcula has a real purpose other than holiday fun. The flexibility allows the birds to flap its wings with a spring-loaded motion without snapping.

This bizarre tradition has many historical origins. One originates from an ancient Italian civilization. The Etruscans thought that birds were capable of predicting the future, so whenever they slaughtered a chicken, they would leave the furcula in the sun for preservation.

The story goes that people who would walk past these drying bones would rub it and make a wish. I’m guessing a lot of these wishes were “I wish I had a chicken to eat,” but I really don’t know.

From there, the Romans got wind of this magical bone and apparently there weren’t enough for everyone so they began to fight over them. In doing so, they were broken. Fast-forward to Plymouth Rock and the Macy’s Day Parade, and here we are still wrapped up in a furcula fight.

And a final fun fact while it dries. This little bone is an evolutionary connection between the chicken (and turkey) and the dinosaur. T Rex had a furcula, too. This year, among other things, I’m thankful I’m not trying to stuff one of those in my oven.

Reach Karrie McAllister at mckarrie@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Furcula or wishbone? Traditions still carry on during Thanksgiving