THANKSGIVING

THE MYTHS

• The settlers didn't really have silver buckles on their shoes.
• They didn't wear black clothing.
• The Englishmen didn't call themselves Pilgrims.
• They didn't have turkey.
• Didn't wear headdresses.

MODERN THANKSGIVING

• 19th century- modern thanksgiving started taking shape
• 1846- Sarah Hale campaigned for an annual national thanksgiving
• 👆that was after a passage about the 1621 harvest gathering was incorrect
• 1863- Abe Lincoln declared 2 national thanksgivings
• 👆one in August, one in November

THE CELEBRATION

• 4 Englishmen were sent to hunt for food for the harvest gathering of 1621.
• The Wampanoag heard gunshots & thought they might be preparing for war.
• At the gathering they ate deer, corn, shellfish, & roasted meat.
• They played games, sang, & danced.
• Massasoit sent some of his own men to hunt for food.

DAILY LIFE

• "Pilgrims" arrived in the New World during winter.
• That made it hard for them to find food & build shelter.
• Many passengers failed to survive.
• Native people were already living on the land.
• They shared the knowledge of local crops & navigation.

NATIVE AMERICANS & THANKSGIVING

• Peace between Native Americans & settlers lasted a generation.
• The Wampanoag people don't share popular reverence.
• For them the holiday is a reminder of betrayal & bloodshed.
• Since 1970 many people gather around statue of Massasoit
• There they remember their ancestors & the strength of the Wampanoag.