A Cornucopia is horn-shaped basket that is usually known for holding food. Also referred to sometimes as a "horn of plenty", cornucopia are often linked with the Thanksgiving holiday and is associated with feasting, harvests, and an abundance of food. The word "cornucopia" is derived from the Latin words cornu and copiae, meaning horn and plenty respectively giving Cornucopia a literal meaning of Horn of Plenty.http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/cterms/g/cornucopia.htm

The cornucopia's origins have roots in Greek Mythology. http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/cornucopia.html According to the Greek story, a goat named Amalthea had her horn broken off by the god, Zeus after providing young Zeus with years of nurutring milk while the god was very young. Zeus granted the horn special powers to always be filled with fruits and grains to feed whomever held the horn. The cornucopia was named such after the goddess Copia, who was the goddess of plenty and was said to have held the cornucopia for some time.http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/cterms/g/cornucopia.htm Other goddesses that have been associated with the cornucopia include Tyche, a Roman goddess of abundance, and Dionysus.http://www.flowershopnetwork.com/pages/newsletter/NewsletterOctober2005.php

Over time the cornucopia shifted from being thought of as a goat's horn, into more of a basket, still retaining its horn shape. In the modern world, the plentiful horn has been a natural companion for celebrations during the harvest time of year, including Thanksgiving. In modern day, cornucopias are often used for centerpieces, and can be filled with fruits, grains, decorative gourds, or more commonly, flowers.

To help educate children about the origins of Thanksgiving, giving, harvest, autumn, and even Greek mythology, you can do a simple craft project with them. The project can be modified based on the age of the child.

Simply take some construction paper--gold, orange, or brown to be more traditional--and roll it into a cone shape. Use scotch tape to seal the cone's shape. Now use markers, crayons, or paints to decorate the cornucopia, either as a traditional basket, with a child's name, or with any decor that your child chooses. Rolling the cornucopia in a light amount of glue and then glitter can be festive and fun (if a bit messy). You can also tie a festive ribbon around the cone for an added flourish.

Then fill the paper cornucopias with candies, nuts, or other small gifts. Place the paper cornucopias as table place markers, Thanksgiving decorations around the house, or give as a gift to someone special.