Founding myth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A founding myth is a story, sometimes a myth, but most often a legend, surrounding the foundation of a nation-state. It is a kind of 'national myth', a part of a nation's civil religion.
In most cases, the story is unrelated to the actual founding history of the country. In other cases, the popular conception of the historical founding events carries an air of increased nobility or other sentiment, or includes stories and traditions based only loosely on actual events. Noble actions and events are often emphasized, while other parts of the history are largely forgotten. Often, historical figures — especially political and military rulers — become glorified as heroes or even as semi-divine.
In New Zealand, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is seen as its founding myth. Australia and New Zealand began to move away from the United Kingdom after the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I and is often regarded as the 'founding myth' of these two countries. In Canada, a similar story developed after the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the same conflict. In Switzerland, the story of the Eidgenosse is a founding myth.
