Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means that us parents are faced with the question of what to tell our children about this (somewhat controversial) holiday. You probably remember having a part in the annual school play reenacting the “First Thanksgiving” and you know that’s no longer (and never was) appropriate because it paints a pretty inaccurate picture of what happened all those years ago. But if that’s not what happened, what did? In this episode I share what I’ve learned about the untold story of what actually happened during that harvest festival in the autumn of 1621. 

I cover:

-The events leading up to the harvest festival, including the initial meeting between the Europeans and the Wampanoag people 

-The role of Tisquantum (Squanto)

-The festival itself and the events that followed 

-Sarah Josepha Hale-The Mother of Thanksgiving 

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-an American poet who carefully crafted the romanticized version of the Thanksgiving story

Download the FREE Harvest: Festivals Around the World E-book

Harvest: Festivals Around the World is an interactive ebook that teachers about 4 different harvest festivals. Each page teaches about a different festival and has links to videos, songs, and art that you can enjoy with your kiddos!

 

Download the FREE resource guide to share with your child’s teacher so that they can accurately teach about Thanksgiving 

 

Join the First Name Basis Patreon Community

 

Sources used and articles referenced:

Why I’m Not thankful for Thanksgiving by Michael Dorris

Rethinking Columbus

-This book contains the article: Plagues, Pilgrims, and the Truth About Thanksgiving by James w. Loewen

Beyond Heroes and Holidays

Plimoth Plantation

Podcast: Stuff You Missed in History Class

Episode: Sarah Josepha Hale & Godey's Lady's Book

Sidedoor: A Podcast from the Smithsonian 

Episode: That Brunch in the Forest

The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN