I am always looking for ways to help my family remember the real meaning of Thanksgiving.
Our ancestors sacrificed so much to come to this country and I want to make sure we are thankful for not only the time we get to spend around the table but for everything they did to pave the way for the country we live in today.
This is how to teach your children about Thanksgiving using place tags.
On the bottom of each of the Thanksgiving, place tags is a Thanksgiving fact. Before dinner and after our Thanksgiving prayer we each read the fact that is taped to the bottom of our pumpkin.
- Pumpkin #1 – In 1620, the Mayflower came ashore in the New World.
- Pumpkin #2 – In 1621 Thanksgiving was held as a three-day feast to celebrate the first harvest and to thank the local Indians that had helped them to survive their first year in Massachusetts.
- Pumpkin #3 – In 1623, the Plymouth colony had a terrible drought and they prayed for rain. After the rains had come, they celebrated Thanksgiving with a day of prayer.
- Pumpkin #4 – In 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving on June 29, to express their thanks for the good fortune their community had securely established.
- Pumpkin #5 – In 1777, all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time; however, it was a one-time affair commemorating a victory over the British at Saratoga.
- Pumpkin #6 – In 1789, George Washington proclaimed November 26th to be a national thanksgiving day for adoption of Constitution.
- Pumpkin #7 – In 1846 Sarah Hale begins advocating a national Thanksgiving celebration, believing this spiritual means would unify and preserve the nation.
- Pumpkin #8 – In 1863 President Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be set aside as a “day of Thanksgiving and Praise”.
- Pumpkin #9 – In 1941, Congress changed the holiday permanently to the 4th Thursday of November.
I would love to hear if how you are teaching your children about the true meaning of Thanksgiving! Please share with us by leaving a comment below!
P.S. Do you like what you are reading? Join the homestead and homemaking movement and get some Our Simple Homestead inspiration delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up Now!
DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation from affiliate and sponsored posts on this blog.
What a great tradition! We use butcher paper to cover our table and everyone writes things for which they are thankful. At supper, we read them aloud. Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday. Hope you had a great weekend!