Somewhat in continuation of my comment on the thread about medieval towns and cities, I became curious: what are some other ways in which there exists widespread misconceptions of the historicity of? This can be anything: buildings, traditions, rituals, institutions and so on, just something that people _generally_ think is old, but is actually relatively young.
Some more background: There are tonnes of things that are socially given a certain status of authenticity based on a perceived historicity, often being involved in some deeper argument. But a lot of it is based on false ideas about things historicity and anachronistic beliefs about society; some would call it \*sniffle* _ideology_ \*sniffle*. Often it is part of constructing an idea about nationalism or about the state of affairs more generally, and as a historian—>!and radical progressive!<—it is one of the things I find not only very interesting, but also, in many ways, believe should be put under the toughest criticism and scrutiny, in order to break those misconceptions, and in some ways show more the realities of the situation.
A somewhat “mild” one from Denmark, and also Sweden, is the annual tradition on Saint Lucy’s Day. Children and choirs do processions [dressed in white and carrying candles, while singing a song about st. Lucy.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/SanktaLuciaProcession.jpg) This is, by many, seen as an “authentic” traditions, and many falsely believes that it has roots in pre-Reformation Catholic traditions and rituals. But it has no such roots. This allegedly “authentic” tradition was invented by a Swedish newspaper in the late 1920es, came to Denmark in the 1930es, but didn’t enjoy widespread popularity until the 1950es! It is, at most, two generations old, and yet people think of it as an age-old tradition.
Ofc. I wont take away from it that it has authenticity as a tradition, it does, in its social functions and how it is spread throughout society and so on, and it is a real tradition and ritual, but it doesn’t enjoy the historicity that many ascribe to it.
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The National Holiday of 1st of August. It first dates back to 1891, but we celebrate the “Rütlischwuur” in 1291(oath at the Rütli) between the “Ur-Kantone” the founding Cantons of Uri, Schwyz & Unterwalden (today: Ob- & Nidwalden). 1291 is just some date and the 1st of August has no real significance, it is arbitrary.
This holiday is over 100 years old still, but not as old as it seems to be, not from 1291. Many other Swiss nationalistic tendencies are only really established during the World Wars and were invented to bring unity and were revived in the ninties when to question arose if we should join the EU.
If you speak German (or can use DeepL), here is an article about the holiday a bit more in depth. https://www.watson.ch/schweiz/history/334222351-bundesfeiertag-2021-darum-feiert-die-schweiz-am-1-august
The Elizabeth Tower/Big Ben was built in 1859, which I imagine is a lot later than many people even in the UK would think. The current Palace of Westminster was constructed from 1840-1876, after a fire in 1834 destroyed the old ancient palace.
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Many people believe that bulls are Spain’s national animal.
But it’s really part of the marketing strategy of an alcoholic beverages company from the sixties.
Historically, the “animal representing Spain” had been a lion. There are many examples:
– The lion in the coats of arms of Spain and León.
– The cover of [this book](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Jacob_Neefs%2C_Erasmus_Quellinus_II_-_Frontispiece_of_Philippus_Prudens.jpg) from 1639, representing the Spanish kings (the lion) defeating Portugal (the dragon).
– The two lions [in the Congress’ entrance](https://www.google.com/search?q=leones+congresos&prmd=imnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiuh6fJnar3AhVO1BoKHVa3DQoQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ#imgrc=xlBv3Z4_7lbY5M&imgdii=z_u9NeRXfk_p1M), from 1851.
– The [Statue of Hispania](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Biblioteca_Nacional_de_Espa%C3%B1a_%28Madrid%29_02b.jpg/1200px-Biblioteca_Nacional_de_Espa%C3%B1a_%28Madrid%29_02b.jpg) in the National Library, of a young woman which represents Spain next to a lion, made in first decade of the 20th century
– In coins, [like this one from 1870](https://www.fuenterrebollo.com/faqs-numismatica/ima98/1870-1cto-15.jpg)
– In the [door of Toledo, in Madrid](https://www.biodiversidadvirtual.org/etno/data/media/104/Puerta-de-Toledo-en-Madrid-23921.jpg)
– Or in this painting from the 18th century, [“Spain and Parma together promote science and the arts”](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Espa%C3%B1a_y_Parma_unidas_impulsan_las_ciencias_y_las_artes.jpg)
The Second Spanish Republic also used the lion in coins and representations [(example)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xo2D3SeBaOk/UX1NeyLbSsI/AAAAAAAAA9I/OrAsdattlwc/s1600/2Republica.jpg), to the extent that it became one of its most prominent symbols.
After the civil war, it fell out of favor (probably because of its relationship with the Republic). But the fact is that the Hispanic Lion has been the animal representation of Spain for centuries, and of the kingdoms of Castille and Leon before that, and it was only during Franco’s dictatorship when the Bull gained popularity.
The [**Supreme Court of the United Kingdom**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_Kingdom) sounds like it should have been around for a very long time. However, it was only created in 2009.
There was of course a UK final court of appeal before the creation of the Supreme Court, and that court had (mostly) the same powers, and initially the same judges too. However, [for various reasons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_Kingdom#Creation), that court – the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords – was replaced.
The post of [**Mayor of London**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_London) only dates back to 2000. The current Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been in post for 6 years (his predecessor was some guy called Boris; I forget what happened to him).
It’s sometimes confused with the post of [*Lord* Mayor of London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Mayor_of_London), which was established in 1189. The occupants are rarely well known to the wider public; the current one is the 693rd Lord Mayor.
14 March as Dita e Verës. It’s the same holiday as Baba Marta in Bulgaria, or Mărțișor in Romania and Moldova, or Martinka in Northern Macedonia which are celebrated on March 1st. Historically it has been March 1st on Albania too, but the change from Julian to Gregorian calendar pushed the date. Other Balkan countries didn’t bother to make the adjustment, so now we act like this is a pagan tradition we have inherited from ancient times and no one else in the Balkans has this tradition because it’s not in the same date, proving we are unique because it makes sense to nationalists. The fact we all make the same red and white bracelets doesn’t seem to be relevant enough, even though it’s the most iconic thing about this holiday.
🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️
This will sound stupid, but – Polenta. The corn-based food has a status of national food, and some nationalistic people have this romanticized view of a Dacian shepard eating Polenta with bacon/pig fat and onion since 2000 years ago. But the truth is polenta became popular only around 300y ago, because corn is specific to the americas.
(I like that a lot of the stuff that makes our traditional dishes today like tomatoes and potatoes come from americas)
For Belgium, I would say the castles. We have a large amount of castles (the most per capita, which is a very amusing use of ‘per capita’, makes it sound like we get to share them) and they are absolutely everywhere, but I feel like outside of europe there’s this idea that castle=medieval, which not all of them are, and most importantly, the ones that actually are medieval, have been restored so often that while the concept is medieval, the physical contruction you’re looking at very likely isn’t.
Then, on a sillier hill I’ll die on, mothersday. A large part of Belgium celebrates the American monthers day, which was only invented in the beginning of the 1900s. When it arrived in Belgium, we actually already had a mothers day. In August, on the day of the Holy Mary (fitting) which was started about a decade earlier in Antwerp. While a decade doesn’t not make this tradition much more acient than the other one, people from Antwerp are known to be quite stubborn and prideful so getting them to yield to an American holiday proved impossible.
So the majority of Belgium celebrates it in May or something and Antwerp on the 15th of August. And every year I get into discussions about this because I too am a stubborn and prideful citizen of Antwerp. But that’s two young traditions for the prize of one!
Portugal and slavery. The country is praised for being the first to ban it in the mid 1700’s but slaves continued to exist with no consequences to its owners until the 20th century.
In fact the first and most talked ban in 1761 only declared free the slaves who entered Portugal mainland, everywhere else slavery still existed. With Brazil independence in 1820 a special rule allowed slave owners to bring them to Portugal as slaves. All forms of slavery in Portugal (excluding colonies) were only banned in 1869. People in colonies continued having slaves, although with other name until 25th April 1975, the Liberty Day in Portugal
Another faux tradition is clan tartans and kilts, which actually came around the 19th century when Scotland became a popular holiday destination due to Queen Victoria and her estate in Balmoral.
Originally, Scotsmen wrapped themselves in wraps called plaid which were modernised into the modern 5 yard kilt. Also, most of the bright colours couldn’t exist until the 19th century when artificial dyes became cheap and easy.
[Eilean Donan Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilean_Donan#/media/File:Eilean_Donan_Castle,_Scotland_-_Jan_2011.jpg) actually only dates back to 1932!
(Technically. It’s on the site of a much older castle that was destroyed in the 18th century and was rebuilt by 1932.
A lot of things the Internet like to claim has pagan pre-Christian roots have in fact, Christian very post-pagan roots.
Apart from elements of the old testament I guess, the pagan roots of Christian traditions is very tiny, but you can 100% expect the average angry redditor arguing with serious historians that discussed with other serious and intelligent historians for decades on said matters, and the redditor thinks they’re on the right.
Basically a lot of Neo-pagan religiosity is based on what crackpot historians from the 19th century and even some fantasy authors shit.
Christmas in particular is fruitful of these, and they’re a whole battle where twitter celebs, twitter non celebs, redditors, insta influencers, real life influencers, join their forces to spout shit that has no credibility and no truth, against professional historians, all with a smug authority.
Half of r/badhistory are posts about Christian festivities.
For example the whole Yule festival is a modern era made up story, and Christmas has nothing to do with it. All the yule traditions there are in Scandinavian Christmas are in fact, things created under a Christian cultural mindset.
Anyways, esentially all of European culture is post-Christian, in all places, to a very good extent Christian culture and European culture are basically synonyms.
Going back to the point of the post
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Most of European (and most of non-european too) cuisine is from the last 200-300 years, however after learning this fact people go to the other extreme (why do people have to stick to extremes? Why do they have to be so emotional and blind about all points of view?) in that they say nothing has old traditions, everything is recent, you’d think people ate water in the middle ages going by twitterheads and redditors – just because parmigiano reggiano was codified 150 years ago, doesn’t mean they didn’t have parmigiano’s ancestors in say 1300, in fact they’re present in literature. It would be very different but some of the core concepts would be there. You’d be able to recognise which are Italian style cheeses and which are French style cheeses with the same ease nowadays as back then.
The one genuine offender though is carbonara, which is genuinely just young, less than a century old, and it doesn’t have “primitive” roots in older recipes, parmigiano would be different but still be recognisable in 1300, carbonara, not.