MYTHS AND LEGENDS

I’ve attempted to understand the differences between myths and legends—and maybe I’m getting a some insight.  Two examples from the on-going research that we’re doing on the history of Santa Barbara North County help. The first is from stories of the First Nation of the region which my partner Rich has recorded. The ancient Chumash have a delightful myth about creation of the earth and its peoples. It is for us a story and not intended to be fact.

A legend is different. Although it also might be repeated over and over, it is within the realm of possibility. It however has not been proven or disproved and might never be. From our history project, we noted the tale of early explorers or missionaries in California scattering mustard seeds to provide road marks for their return. Could this explain the swatches if mustard along the roads that we saw this spring? Fact? In reading the diaries of the Portola expedition—the earliest non-indigenous people’s entry into the area--I found no mention of scattering mustard seeds. In fact, the diaries tell of a rather logical means of recording daily distances and directions which would be useful in any return journey. Bur when we saw these yellow fields reflecting the sunlight, we wanted to believe the legend.  And it certainly could have happened.

Aside from the enjoyment of such a legend, there might be a greater truth in it. The legend of seed scattering is surrounded by the accounts of the undaunted explorers into this land--totally unknown to them-- and facing unknown hazards and discomfort. Just a part of what we might want to understand about the echoes of our land’s past.