The rattlesnake, a complex symbol of American culture

Source: Global Times

From March 12 to 14, the city of Sweetwater, Texas, held an annual rattlesnake hunting celebration. On the world's largest rattlesnake round-up, tens of thousands of snakes were beheaded and skinned amid cheers, and the scene was bloody. Some people see the event as a local cultural heritage, but animal protectors have called for a ban on such brutal killings. In fact, in American history, the rattlesnake is a special and complex cultural symbol. Before the Revolutionary War, this repellent animal represented the North American colonies' rebellion against Britain. However, in reality, this dangerous animal is in a situation of "everyone shouting and beating", and is abused and killed in large quantities. The rattlesnake's cultural and real encounter with the "double heaven of ice and fire" is lamentable.

The "Miss Rattlesnake" pageant attracts attention

This spring, the Rattlesnake in Texas did not get a chance to recuperate. With the COVID-19 pandemic still severe in the United States, Texas relaxed its epidemic prevention and control measures on March 10, allowing business activities to be fully open. This allowed this year's rattlesnake roundup to continue.

The Rattlesnake Hunt celebration in Sweetwater is an annual event in Texas, and this year marks the 63rd consecutive time the city has hosted the event. Despite the impact of the epidemic, this year's event attracted tens of thousands of participants. It should be known that the population of Sweetwater Is only in its early 10,000s, which shows the popularity of this activity.

In fact, Sweetwater isn't the only one who organizes round-up rattlesnakes. Many states in the Midwest and South of the United States have such customs. Rattlesnake is the most common venomous snake in the United States, european immigrants first arrived in North America to reclaim the land, often people and livestock were bitten or bitten to death, so from the 18th century, some areas of the United States began to hold activities to round up rattlesnakes. People have invented various methods of "luring snakes out of the hole", including pouring gasoline into the snake hole.

To a certain extent, the hunting of rattlesnakes is a microcosm of the history of Colonization and pioneering in North America. However, with the development of society, this activity gradually evolved from the initial defensive purpose to an organized and large-scale entertainment celebration. Among the regions, sweetwater is best known for its rattlesnake hunt.

The content of the celebration is "rich", there are rattlesnake hunting competitions, cooking competitions, big stomach king competitions, etc., the most eye-catching of which is the "Miss Rattlesnake" beauty contest, also known as the "Miss Snake" beauty contest, local girls aged 16 to 19 can participate. Unlike other beauty pageants, this competition pays more attention to "courage" than appearance and dress. Contestants need to cut off the snake's head with a knife and skin the snake to prove their bravery. The classic scene of this pageant is of a young girl holding a long fork to pick up a beheaded rattlesnake.

There is a lot of controversy

The scene of the round-up rattlesnake celebration can be described as both horror and bloodshed. According to statistics, when the event is held every year, the city of Sweetwater catches more than two tons of snakes. The judges measure their weight and length, after which the venom is removed. Most of these snakes are beheaded. The processed snake meat is made into a variety of foods and distributed to the audience, and the remaining snake skin is sold or made into decorations.

Snake blood can be seen everywhere at the event site. On the walls, there were handprints with blood. These are all "victory" signs left on the wall after the participants skinned the rattlesnake. When one rattlesnake after another was decapitated, the crowd of onlookers, including children, screamed and laughed incessantly. It is also for this reason that the campaign has been controversial. Critics argue that such brutal slaughter sites have little educational significance for minors. However, the organizers believe that through such activities, teenagers can identify poisonous snakes and overcome people's fear of snakes. In addition, the celebration has long been an important source of local economics, generating about $8.3 million in revenue per year.

Many people round up the animal every year on the grounds that rattlesnakes in Texas and other regions are "flooding". But official figures show that fewer than five people die each year from snake bites in the United States, including those who refuse medical treatment and are bitten by venomous snakes they have. In addition, the use of gasoline to catch rattlesnakes not only reduced rattlesnake populations, but also polluted the surrounding land and groundwater, and more than 350 species of wildlife were affected. Some regions have already embarked on changes. Clarkston, Georgia, has stopped rounding up rattlesnakes since 2012 and replaced them with a "Rattlesnake and Wildlife Celebration" to educate the public about rattlesnake safety knowledge and habits.

Complex cultural symbols

The rattlesnake is representative of the culture of the North American colonial era. In 1751, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, made an ironic suggestion: colonies could distribute rattlesnakes throughout Britain as a way to "repay" the British for transporting criminals to the North American continent. In 1754, Franklin published a political cartoon in the Pennsylvania Gazette called "Joining or Dying," in which he depicted the North American colonies as snakes broken into pieces, symbolizing the division of the colonies. He also published articles calling on the colonies to unite against foreign enemies. Later, U.S. military general Christopher Gadden designed the famous "Gazden Flag": the flag is based on yellow, with a rattlesnake coiled on it, and the text "Don't step on me" next to it. This flag is considered one of the earliest flags in the United States. Historian Mark Lepson, author of The Flag: A Biography of America, argues that the snake, which warns the enemy against provocation, symbolizes opposition to British rule in the North American colonies and support for the Independence Revolution.

However, with the development of American society, this rattlesnake pattern gradually took on a new meaning. In the 1970s, it became a symbol of libertarian support for small government and individual rights. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and the subsequent rise of the Tea Party, the motif was used to express the "spirit" of daring to resist and defy the outside world. As of 2018, 10 states, including Alabama, allow drivers to use the motif as license plates. Later, however, the motif became a proxy for racial discrimination, far-right and gun-wing.