As a child, I looked forward to Thanksgiving almost as much as I looked forward to Christmas. In part, that’s because Thanksgiving means Christmas is around the corner. However, there was more to it than that. Food and family have always meant a lot, and as I got older, the opportunity to be thankful came into the picture.
Food and family is a large part of this holiday. It’s also a “teachable moment” where our children are concerned. Here are a few thoughts on how traditional foods can become symbols of Thanksgiving:
Turkey: Turkey is a very common entre when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. One possible reason for the association is the first Thanksgiving. While we have few details, we know that the Pilgrims procured “fowl.” Turkeys would have been plentiful, as they don’t migrate. They’re also big enough to be a meal for more than one person. This makes it a tie with the original meaning of the day.
Corn: Many of the crops the Pilgrims gathered were new to them. Corn, probably in the form of maize, would be one of them. The Native Americans taught them how to plant the crop and it proved to be a valuable lesson. This can help children understand that without the help of those who knew this country, the Pilgrims would probably not have survived.
Cranberries: We don’t know whether or not cranberries made it to the first Thanksgiving table, but it’s probable. They are native to the region and the Native Americans would have pointed them out. You may want to use this moment to point out a common fallacy about the fruits in the New World. There are definitely more than three native fruits, despite popular opinion.
Potatoes: While potatoes certainly put in an appearance at most Thanksgiving dinners, they were not at the first one. This plant, which is native to Peru, didn’t hit North American until 1621. They were a gift from the governor of Bermuda to the governor of Virginia.
Giblet Gravy: If you had to ask me which is my least favorite foods were in the typical Thanksgiving menu, this would be one of them. However, it can a good lesson for the kids. The Pilgrims didn’t waste anything that could have use, and the organ meats from the fowl definitely fit that class.
Pumpkin: Once again, we don’t know if it made an appearance at the table, but the season would be right. It would not have been in the form of a pie. More likely, it was stewed. The Pilgrims didn’t have regular sugar, so pie making would have been a bit difficult. However, they may have sweetened it with maple sugar.
Foliage: Having fall leaves as table decorations reminds us that the first Thanksgiving was basically a harvest feast, as well as a means of saying thank you to God and to the Native Americans who helped them.
It’s important to emphasize thankfulness on this day. The Pilgrims were thankful that they were prepared for the coming winter, unlike the miserable time they had the year before. The meal on the table can help your children understand that thankfulness and perhaps share the things they are thankful for.