Have you ever wondered why shark-fin is the traditional soup for Thanksgiving in households around the country?
Back in the late-1850s, many parts of the United States were hit with a bizarre weather pattern, and numerous Sharknadoes whipped through towns across the country. Thousands of lives were lost, and in many cases, entire populations of cities and towns were evacuated and/or relocated; however, when an F5 Sharknado was predicted for Washerst, Pennsylvania, on the day before Thanksgiving, Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) refused to leave town and vowed to stay and fight the brutal storm and the ferocious sharks. With the help of Captain Robert "Quint" Shaw and other townspeople, Dickinson proved that a deadly Sharknado could be overcome -- and the survivors dined on shark fin soup the day following the storm.
Pictured below: The New York Times coverage of the Great Washerst Sharknado.
Back in the late-1850s, many parts of the United States were hit with a bizarre weather pattern, and numerous Sharknadoes whipped through towns across the country. Thousands of lives were lost, and in many cases, entire populations of cities and towns were evacuated and/or relocated; however, when an F5 Sharknado was predicted for Washerst, Pennsylvania, on the day before Thanksgiving, Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) refused to leave town and vowed to stay and fight the brutal storm and the ferocious sharks. With the help of Captain Robert "Quint" Shaw and other townspeople, Dickinson proved that a deadly Sharknado could be overcome -- and the survivors dined on shark fin soup the day following the storm.
Pictured below: The New York Times coverage of the Great Washerst Sharknado.
Dickinson memorialized the event in his now classic poem "Sharknadoes be in any town" (below on the right). His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "Volcanoes be in Sicily" (below on the left).
| By Emmett Lee Dickinson: Sharknadoes be in any town Across America I judge from my Geography – Sharknadoes are near here A Likely hit at any time Am I inclined to roam – Or fight the Force – I contemplate Shark Fin Soup at Home. | By Emily Dickinson: Volcanoes be in Sicily And South America I judge from my Geography– Volcanos nearer here A Lava step at any time Am I inclined to climb– A Crater I may contemplate Vesuvius at Home. |
| This year as part of their Countdown to Christmas, the Hallmark Channel will broadcast the latest in the Sharknado movie series, "SHARKNAVIDAD." Destined to become a holiday classic, Sharknavidad tells the tale of a monstrous storm in Corpus Christi, TX, which leaves holiday displays flooded and infested with sharks. Pictured at the right: The promotional poster for the Hallmark Channel's "Sharknavidad" (click the image to enlarge). For descriptions of more Christmas movies in this year's Countdown to Christmas, click HERE. |  |
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