THANKSGIVINGTHANKSGIVING

Eleven Myths Of Thanksgiving.Eleven Myths Of Thanksgiving.

REASONINGREASONING

I believe it is essential for today’s youth, teachers, I believe it is essential for today’s youth, teachers, and society to understand that the traditional and society to understand that the traditional teachings of “Thanksgiving” are done so in a more teachings of “Thanksgiving” are done so in a more accurate and honest portrayal.accurate and honest portrayal.

We should not continue to educate the stereotypes We should not continue to educate the stereotypes and inaccuracies in our, U.S., history. and inaccuracies in our, U.S., history.

MYTH 1: “FIRST” MYTH 1: “FIRST” THANKSGIVINGTHANKSGIVING

Texans claim the first Thanksgiving in America actually took Texans claim the first Thanksgiving in America actually took place in little San Elizario, a community near El Paso, in 1598 place in little San Elizario, a community near El Paso, in 1598 -- twenty-three years before the Pilgrims' festival. -- twenty-three years before the Pilgrims' festival.

The Berkeley Plantation in Virginia claims the first The Berkeley Plantation in Virginia claims the first Thanksgiving in America was held there on December 4th, Thanksgiving in America was held there on December 4th, 1619....two years before the Pilgrims' festival.1619....two years before the Pilgrims' festival.

Native Americans have celebrated Harvest and Thanksgiving Native Americans have celebrated Harvest and Thanksgiving rituals, sometimes up to six per year.rituals, sometimes up to six per year.

Dutch who offered a scalp bounty have held a “Giving of Dutch who offered a scalp bounty have held a “Giving of Thanks” celebration to God for His help in the destruction of Thanks” celebration to God for His help in the destruction of an entire Native Tribe during battle, with 500 being put to an entire Native Tribe during battle, with 500 being put to death by the sword.death by the sword.

MYTH 2: THE MYTH 2: THE MAYFLOWER STORYMAYFLOWER STORY

The ship was caught up in a storm, but it is believed The ship was caught up in a storm, but it is believed that they knew where they were headingthat they knew where they were heading

Jamestown was an area they would be persecuted, Jamestown was an area they would be persecuted, and they so headed towards Plymouthand they so headed towards Plymouth

The area was lucrative for fishing and fur and would The area was lucrative for fishing and fur and would provide the settlers with prosperityprovide the settlers with prosperity

MYTH 3: THEY WERE MYTH 3: THEY WERE PILGRIMSPILGRIMS

The original group did not identify themselves as The original group did not identify themselves as Pilgrims- which are persons who travel for religious Pilgrims- which are persons who travel for religious purposespurposes

They were dissidents of the King of England and The They were dissidents of the King of England and The Church of EnglandChurch of England

Pilgrims did not wear the hats, shirts, belt buckles and Pilgrims did not wear the hats, shirts, belt buckles and did not use the muskets that are shown in all the did not use the muskets that are shown in all the Thanksgiving imagesThanksgiving images

MYTH 4: THE PILGRIMS MYTH 4: THE PILGRIMS LANDED AT PLYMOUTH ROCKLANDED AT PLYMOUTH ROCK

The Pilgrims actually landed at The Pilgrims actually landed at ProvincetownProvincetown

The rock was first referred to at The rock was first referred to at least 100 years after the least 100 years after the landing. Possibly as a reference landing. Possibly as a reference to the Bible-Matthew 16:18to the Bible-Matthew 16:18

The “Rock” has been moved The “Rock” has been moved several times before several times before landinglanding at at its current site, where it has its current site, where it has been cracked in two, glued been cracked in two, glued together and chipped away and together and chipped away and carved by tourists. carved by tourists.

MYTH 5: PILGRIMS FOUND MYTH 5: PILGRIMS FOUND CORNCORN

16 settlers went down a Nauset trail where they found 16 settlers went down a Nauset trail where they found a kettle and corn buried in the ground- they took it.a kettle and corn buried in the ground- they took it.

They returned with a larger group and dug up the area They returned with a larger group and dug up the area looking for more supplies, including ten bushels of looking for more supplies, including ten bushels of corncorn

They also dug up graves and raided nearby Indian They also dug up graves and raided nearby Indian dwellingsdwellings

MYTH 6: SAMOSETMYTH 6: SAMOSET(He who walks over much)(He who walks over much)

Spoke some English, learned Spoke some English, learned by English fishermen in by English fishermen in Maine, where he was fromMaine, where he was from

Was sent by the Sachem, Was sent by the Sachem, Massasoit, not just as an Massasoit, not just as an interpreter but to find out interpreter but to find out about the settlers-whom he did about the settlers-whom he did not trustnot trust

Introduced Squanto Introduced Squanto reluctantly, but did not speak reluctantly, but did not speak enough English to carry on enough English to carry on more detailed conversationsmore detailed conversations

MYTH 7: SQUANTOMYTH 7: SQUANTO(Tisquantum)(Tisquantum)

Was a captured slave, who later Was a captured slave, who later gained his freedom and returned to gained his freedom and returned to North AmericaNorth America

Was not trusted by either the Was not trusted by either the settlers, Massasoit, or other native settlers, Massasoit, or other native tribestribes

Wanted to obtain power and have Wanted to obtain power and have Englishmen help him destroy Englishmen help him destroy enemiesenemies

MYTH 8: PILGRIMS INVITE MYTH 8: PILGRIMS INVITE INDIANSINDIANS

Thanksgiving was a term for the giving thanks after a period Thanksgiving was a term for the giving thanks after a period of fasting and prayer-A harvest celebration was more likely of fasting and prayer-A harvest celebration was more likely

The Pilgrims were celebrating their good fortune of survivalThe Pilgrims were celebrating their good fortune of survival

They killed enough fowl to last a weekThey killed enough fowl to last a week

Massasoit arrived with ninety warriors, no women or children, Massasoit arrived with ninety warriors, no women or children, thinking the Pilgrims were preparing for war.thinking the Pilgrims were preparing for war.

MYTH 9: PILGRIMS PROVIDE MYTH 9: PILGRIMS PROVIDE FOODFOOD

Although the settlers did have enough fowl to last a week, they Although the settlers did have enough fowl to last a week, they had very little elsehad very little else

Since the settlers were limited with supplies, food, and Since the settlers were limited with supplies, food, and knowledge the Natives would have provided most of the game knowledge the Natives would have provided most of the game and foodand food

Massasoit sent men to hunt bringing back 5 deer and possibly Massasoit sent men to hunt bringing back 5 deer and possibly turkey, likely but not proventurkey, likely but not proven

Much of the time was spent with the chiefs and leaders in Much of the time was spent with the chiefs and leaders in discussion, not celebratingdiscussion, not celebrating

MYTH 10:MYTH 10:THE FEASTTHE FEAST

A type of pumpkin squash (pompion) and nassump- a traditional corn A type of pumpkin squash (pompion) and nassump- a traditional corn porridge was prepared by the native women, who arrived when it was porridge was prepared by the native women, who arrived when it was determined that no war was happeningdetermined that no war was happening

Plums, grapes, berries, and melons were out of season, Plums, grapes, berries, and melons were out of season,

It was too cold to dig for clams or fish for eels, and no boats for lobsters. It was too cold to dig for clams or fish for eels, and no boats for lobsters. Not enough barley for beer and no wheat crops. Not enough barley for beer and no wheat crops.

Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sweet corn didn’t arrive in the area until the Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sweet corn didn’t arrive in the area until the 1818thth century. century.

Cranberries, not made into a sauce yet, were too tart and those and Cranberries, not made into a sauce yet, were too tart and those and pumpkin pie would not have been served. pumpkin pie would not have been served.

And alas, no popcorn, soda, or football.And alas, no popcorn, soda, or football.

MYTH 11: FRIENDSHIPMYTH 11: FRIENDSHIP Massasoit was not able, with friendship, to Massasoit was not able, with friendship, to

curb war and loss of land by the settlers.curb war and loss of land by the settlers.

In 1637 English soldiers massacred some In 1637 English soldiers massacred some 700 Pequot men, women, and children at 700 Pequot men, women, and children at Fort Mystic. Fort Mystic.

The colony of Connecticut and the The colony of Connecticut and the Massachusetts Bay Colony observed a day of Massachusetts Bay Colony observed a day of thanksgiving in commemoration. thanksgiving in commemoration.

In 1657, Metacom-son of Massasoit, led a In 1657, Metacom-son of Massasoit, led a rebellion. The conflict known as “King rebellion. The conflict known as “King Phillip’s War” led to most of the Indians in Phillip’s War” led to most of the Indians in the Northeast region dead, in slavery, or the Northeast region dead, in slavery, or fleeing to Canada. fleeing to Canada.

Shortly after Metacom’s death, the Plimouth Shortly after Metacom’s death, the Plimouth Colony declared a day of thanksgiving for Colony declared a day of thanksgiving for the English victory. the English victory.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION Thanksgiving may be seen as a Thanksgiving may be seen as a

traditional holiday for the traditional holiday for the purpose of being thankful for purpose of being thankful for all of our food and blessings, all of our food and blessings, but it is not based on a noble but it is not based on a noble idea.idea.

To perpetuate and retell the To perpetuate and retell the same lies and stereotypes is same lies and stereotypes is not only wrong but unethicalnot only wrong but unethical

Educators should celebrate the Educators should celebrate the holiday, but in so doing, tell holiday, but in so doing, tell the truth!the truth!