Thanksgiving is a fun time of the year, when we all spread thanks and love, and the leaves turn to pretty colors. However, do you know what Thanksgiving is actually about? Out of 35 people surveyed from Edison Intermediate School (EIS), only about 23% knew what Thanksgiving was about. Yes, the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together but there’s a lot more to it.
Most people believe that Thanksgiving originated from a feast between the Native Americans and Pilgrims, but it is more than just a feast. “In reality, the assembly of the Wampanoag Peoples and the English settlers in 1621 had much more to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and a pursuit of peace” (“Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving”).
“It’s a very complicated history,” Mrs. Jacqueline Messinger, seventh grade social studies teacher at EIS, stated, “When the indigenous people were on the verge of death, Squanto came in and taught them how to use the land for food. This helped the settlers.”
Over time, traditions among the Americans have developed. Most families share their own wholesome traditions, like gathering together at a family member’s house and sharing many different foods. Cole Milstein, a sixth grader at EIS, shared, “We feast at my grandparent’s house. We also watch the Macy’s Day Parade and football.”
One thing that most people associate with Thanksgiving is all of the food. Some foods include turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and many more. Most of the time, members of the family contribute different dishes to the feast. “Mashed potatoes and turkey are my favorite,” Casey Gilford, an eighth grader at EIS stated.
Thanksgiving is not just an American holiday, it is celebrated in many places, one of which is Canada. However, the Canadian and American Thanksgiving are not the same holiday. “…the earliest report of such a dinner dates back to 1578 when English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a special meal to thank God for granting them safe passage through northern North America into what is today the Canadian Territory of Nunavut” (Boeckmann).
Another aspect of Thanksgiving is giving thanks to people and things that you love. Evan Washbourne, a seventh grader at EIS, expressed, “I am thankful for my parents because they feed me and give me water. I am also thankful for my friends and my pet bunnies.”
