1.13: The Untold Story of Thanksgiving

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 Jasmine shares what she’s learned about the untold story of what actually happened during that harvest festival in the autumn of 1621. She covers:

• 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

Be sure to tune in to the next episode for tips about how to use the untold story of Thanksgiving to paint a more accurate picture for your children.

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

“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

Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast

Sidedoor: A Podcast from the Smithsonian, “That Brunch in the Forest”

Song Credit: “Away” by Geographer and “Beach Disco” by Dougie Wood