Thanksgiving Folklore Has Becomes Historical Fact

It is said that history is often told by the winners and it would be a far different tale if told by the losers.


This is the case with our tradition of Thanksgiving. The truth is, both the Native People and the English had been having different sorts of feasts and times of thanks for many years prior to the event that children for years have been reinacting in elementary schools across the United States. In Canada, it is actually celebrated in October. The truth is, no one knows for sure when the actual feast took place.

If one wanted to get very particular, the first thanksgiving was actually December, 4, 1619. The Engish settlers at Berkeley Plantation on the James River (Now Charles City, VA)were required to celebrate the day of arrival in Thanksgiving to God.

Regardless of the many myths listed below, the concept of Thanksgiving is an important one! We must never lose sight of a tradition that crosses cultures around the world and throughout time. Taking time to be grateful for what we have and not focusing on what we do not is important regardless of nationality or religious persuasion. For many cultures, it is a time after harvest to gather together and celebrate the abundance that they have been blessed with. It is also a chance after many hours and weeks spent on cultivating crops, to take a break, to share stories and break bread with family that cannot always be together.



Myths and Facts
Do you know your REAL thanksgiving history?

Myth #1: The First Thanksgiving" occurred in 1621.

Fact: The Native Americans and the English had both been having giveaways, feasts of thanks and celebration for many years before the two cultures met. There is evidence that a feast of thanks was in place in England where a goose was used as the main dish. The turkey was more readily available in the New World.

The first feast was more political and neither side was giving thanks. In actuality, the first Thanksgiving occurred when Captain John Woodlief thankfully led the newly-arrived English colonists to a grassy slope along the James River and instructed them to drop to their knees and pray in thanks for a safe arrival to the New World. It was December 4, 1619, and 38 men from Berkeley Parish in England vowed:

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrivall at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God."

Myth #2: The Pilgrims found corn.

Fact: Well, they stole it. There are accounts where they went into Native dwellings and stole from their houses and stock piles. In addition, there is also writing that disclose that they robbed Native graves. While there is record of these thefts, there is no record of any restitution.

Myth #3 The Pilgrims invited the Indians to celebrate the First Thanksgiving.

Fact: The Natives heard the shots of the hunting parties and thought they were preparing for war. In truth, Massasoit showed up with 90 men and no women at the feast ready to do battle. Only when they realized what was occuring did they go out and bring back five deer and wild fowl to add to the feast.

In truth, neither side trusted the other. The English saw the Wampanoag as soulless heathens and the Wampanoag saw the English as thieves and grave robbers.

Myth #4 Pilgrims wore black and white

Fact: There is some truth to this.. on Sundays. At this time, black dye was difficult and expensive. Black clothing was saved for funerals, paintings and Sundays. According the the manifest on the Mayflower, they actually wore hues of blue, green, yellow and red. These colors were much easier to manufacture from the available roots.

Myth #5 The Pilgrims and Indians feasted on turkey, potatoes, berries, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and popcorn.

Fact: Written and oral tradition show that the meal actually included venison, wild fowl, and quite possibly nasaump-dried corn pounded and boiled into a thick porridge, and pompion-cooked, mashed pumpkin. Potatoes and sweet potatoes had not made it that far north at this time. Cranberries would have been too tart to eat without sugar to sweeten them, and the corn of the time could not be successfully popped, there was no popcorn.

You can find more myths and facts at: http://www.oyate.org/resources/shortthanks.html