Courtesy Song Dog Kennels

No, it’s not a wolf, and it’s not a cayote; it’s an American Indian dog. These working companion animals were almost lost to history after our American Indians were segregated onto reservations, and often left without the resources necessary to maintain the ancient breed. There is now growing interest in restoring the old lines of these beautiful canines.

America’s founding kennel for restoration, Song Dog Kennels, has been researching and saving the AI dogs for over 45 years. Founded in 1965, the AI dog registry now has over 850 dogs on record. Song Dog Kennels currently seeks to raise public awareness of the plight and historical significance of the American Indian Dog.

At LPH we are most fascinated by the images in the Ancient Dog Gallery (1 and 2) at the Song Dog Kennels website. Amazingly, the antique images consistently show a dog that looks very much like the animal pictured here.

Read more about restoration efforts, breeding programs, and history at the Song Dog Kennels online at www.indiandogs.com.

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Article by Carrie Franzwa.  Excerpt from September 2009 LetsPlayHistory Club Newsletter.

In the early 1930’s, with the country in a great depression, wooden jigsaw puzzles, especially those featuring figural pieces, hit their zenith of popularity. Wealthy collectors bought them for pleasure and for entertaining guests, while the middle classes enjoyed renting them from local “libraries,” which operated much like today’s video stores.

The middle classes were also the puzzle makers – especially women. For a time, puzzle cutting was a booming cottage industry, as ladies could buy or borrow treadle scroll saws and manufacture puzzles at home.

It was also during the early 1930’s that die cut cardboard puzzles were first introduced, and became popular as promotional giveaways. While the cardboard puzzles made it possible for even the poor to enjoy this popular pastime, they did eventually spell demise for the great wooden jigsaw puzzle fad of the early 20th century.

Today there are still enough wooden jigsaw puzzle cutters out there to more than supply demand. One of the most famous wooden jigsaw companies still surviving from the 1930’s is Par Puzzles (ParPuzzles.com), whose marketing strategy was to continue catering to the wealthiest collectors.

Carrie soon realized there was not room for another full size puzzle cutter in today’s market, which is what motivated her to develop the miniature 1930’s-style Puzlet Gems (www.letsplayhistory.org/Puzlets/).

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Shows figural pieces

Mini handcut puzzle, 3x4-inches

Springtime on the Farm, Currier & Ives

Puzlet Gems

The expanded edition includes a new chapter on Thanksgiving era pirates, and how they are connected to Plymouth, plus more games, and more resources for improving relations with American Indians.

Available in paperback or spiral bound through Lulu.com/TeachFromTheHeart. ISBN 978-0-557-08714-3. Coming soon in paperback to Borders.com and Amazon.com.

Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Yet, because Thanksgiving has been relegated to the status of “just a child’s story,” Americans continue on with the culturally stale holiday status quo.

Part of the problem has been generations of traditional K-12 history textbooks that have white-wash everything in order to keep content “classroom safe.” This has done nothing but result in a nation full of people who think our history is irrelevant and boring.

I, too, was one of those Americans who loathed history study. (Thankfully a lucky set of circumstances caught my interest and I discovered for myself how amazing history is to learn.)

The saddest part of the Thanksgiving holiday status quo to me is our prevailing belief that Native Peoples are honored by this annual “remembrance.” Yet no grand scale social efforts have ever been made to improve relationships with our Native Peoples during this holiday.

Perhaps it is because Native Peoples are still pretty upset with us, and we don’t want to touch that.

OK. That’s understandable.

But, as in any relationship, constructive criticism is valuable, and very beneficial when received. For example, one of the most important complaints coming out of Indian country to America is that we are asleep to our history.

(Yep, guilty, as charged.)

How can Native Peoples help us understand their stance and participate in developing good relationships when we have only a superficial understanding of how they ended up as they did? How will we ever create goodwill if we aren’t willing to learn about them, and explore our controversial (and therefore interesting!) history?

I hope above all that the historical Thanksgiving holiday ideas that we are presenting, and the push for creating awareness of American Indian issues, will somehow, someway, change hearts and minds on a grand scale. It would be beyond gratifying to actually turn our “All-American” holiday into something sincerely all-American.

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Written by Carrie Franzwa, author of …Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas and Our Native American Neighbors

(The 1893 Thanksgiving recipes are available in our public share-ware Old-World Recipedia)

My 1902 Sears Roebuck catalog didn’t have any pictures of a cooking pot by that name (at least not that we could find), and a Google search turned up little.

But, happy for us, somebody in the email loop knew what it was!  They sent us a picture, but it appears the picture is not to be copied.  In that picture it looks like a taller, narrower bunting pan - center pipe and fluted edges -n- all.

However, in looking at it, it didn’t seem to be a perfect fit to the description, as in the 1893 recipe it said to “tie the lid on securely.”  There were no tie downs on this piece that I could see, so I took this information and tried finding similar items on eBay.

With eBay’s alternative wording feature I found they are more often called “pudding steamers.”  The ones from the turn of the century look more like lidded buckets in appearance, and have eyelets on both sides, best as I can tell.

Here is a picture of one said to be c. 1900:

How, exactly, they were latched shut I am not yet clear on.

Bailing wire, perhaps?

However they were closed, it all makes more sense now than it did this morning!

Thanks mystery solvers!

The following 7 Table-Setting Steps will walk you through the basics of re-creating period ambiance through both English and Native Wampanoag place settings. These steps are taken from the complete living-history how-to guide, The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas: Old-World Table Settings, Recipes, Games, Hand Crafts, and Party Ideas for Cultural Enrichment and Pleasure.

This proper English setting includes a pewter mug, breadplate, spoon, and salt dip. The wood bowl could be replaced by a medium size wood plate. The knife should be straight-edged and pointed. Includes a white linen serviette.

Step 1: Make your own table cover and serviettes

The most authentic fabric choice for the 1621 table is linen, with white being far and away the most popular color choice of the time period. Natural colors were also used, however, as was cotton fabric. Whatever your preference, buy enough fabric to cover your table, and calculate yardage for serviettes based on width of fabric and size desired (there was no standard: serviettes are described as being “bath towel-sized,” and could have been either rectangular or square). Cut all pieces out on the grain, then hand finish the edges with cotton thread for the greatest authenticity, or machine finish all edges. For more details on making serviettes see:http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/carries-chat/serviette/

One way to use the serviette

Step 2: Buy your wood bowls or plates

Wood bowls and plates are fairly easy to find new in today’s market. Simply search online using “Wood Plates” as your search terms, and you’ll have plenty of providers to choose from. In the LPH guide you will find resources for learning how to turn your own plates, or for buying unfinished plates and finishing them in period authentic fashion. Shown here is a set of plates that have a more modern wide brim. A narrow brim would increase the style authenticity for the time period.

Modern wood plates with wide brim

Step 3: Shop for metal mugs

Reproduction pewter mugs are the hardest table item to find, whether new or used. Even finding reasonably priced steel, tin, or aluminum mugs can prove a challenge. Try shopping second hand stores, eBay, outdoor outfitters, and flea markets. To relieve stress, be resigned to having mismatched, less-authentic mugs the first year, and go with whatever you can find. Then join in the wholesale purchasing co-op at LetsPlayHistory.org for new, lead-free sets of 8 reproduction mugs (and other pewter items).

Three inauthentic mug choices shown on the right

Step 4: Omit your forks, and add proper spoons and knives

As of 1621, the English still thought forks sinfully effeminate, and they wouldn’t use them. Instead, their pointed, straight-edge knives were used like the fork is used today. Additionally, the pointed knife tip was necessary for dipping salt. Pewter spoons are another item very difficult to find, but authentic alternatives would include hand carved wood or bone spoons.

Wooden spoons prove fun to use on Thanksgiving!

Step 5: Add a salt dip

Pewter salt dips are the easiest of the pewter items to find, at least in used condition. They measured roughly 3 to 4-inches across the mouth, and were set out in the center of the table to be used communally. A small wood bowl of similar dimensions also fits the bill for period authenticity, though it wouldn’t have been as common among the middle class Mayflower pilgrims.

Pewter salt dips were used communally

Step 6: Create an optional Wampanoag place setting

If you would like to stir everyone’s delight, add a plausible Wampanoag place setting to your Thanksgiving table. Primitive hand carved bowls and spoons are an authentic option. Shown here is an inverted turtle shell, which is a favorite in theory, however be aware that real turtle shells pose certain health risks. For imitation turtle shells join the wholesale purchasing co-op at LetsPlayHistory.org. As for Native knives, flint knives are the only authentic choice, as in 1621 the Native Peoples were not yet using steel objects. Many tribes across America still make flint knives, and a number of craftsmen sell on eBay. Purchasing information, as well as resources for learning how to make your own flint knives, are found in the LPH guide.

Plausible Wampanoag place setting

Step 7: Add optional decorations, music, prayers

If you really want to “wow” your guests, enhance the old-world ambiance with hand made period décor items, traditional English or Wampanoag music, and offer Native prayers, as well as English prayers spoken in the archaic King James vernacular (a potentially humorous endeavor, indeed!). You could also introduce a period card game, or other activity while you wait for the turkey to cook. The possibilities are endless. See the LPH guide for many more early New England suggestions.

Milkweed is an indigenous fall bloomer (silk specimen)

This feasible, though less than historically perfect table setting still provides an enchanting old-world look and feel

Article and Photos by Carrie Franzwa, LetsPlayHistory.org, Nov. 2008

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Carrie Franzwa, America’s “Angel of Thanksgiving Past,” is an advocate for restoring American history to the Thanksgiving holiday, and is the author of this nation’s first Thanksgiving living-history how-to book, “The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas: Old World Table Settings, Recipes, Games, Hand Crafts, and Party Ideas for Cultural Enrichment and Pleasure.” She and her husband, David Franzwa, are also the co-founders of LetsPlayHistory.org, an online community for history enthusiasts, reenactors and educators in America.

From the start of the Thanksgiving holiday in 1863, Euro-Americans have romanticized the observance of this historic interracial event of 1621 New England.  For all their noble intentions, however, this holiday suffered censoring and stereotyping as Euro-American Victorians, then the Edwardians, attempted to mold history to the demands of their genteel sensibilities.

Still today, for all the advances of ethnic minorities in America in recent history, the Thanksgiving holiday has continued steady in Victorian and Edwardian traditions and stereotypes that harbor historical deceit.

Indeed, scarce few American families today enjoy emotional connection with the originating history. Somehow the perceived “true story” got itself permanently relegated to the status of a fourth grade story that adults already know, and don’t particularly want to hear again.

At this point in time it isn’t that Americans are against the idea of being honest with our history, it’s that they are on automatic pilot where holiday traditions are concerned, and they honestly don’t know that they don’t know the real history is missing.

As a nation that loathes our own ignorance, and that consistently demonstrates a heart for the oppressed, it’s time we wake up and come full circle in our own healing process by embracing the treasures of our heritage, for better or for worse.

To this end America is being hailed to join a grassroots movement to put 1621 back into the holiday of Thanksgiving. With a little imagination it can prove a magically entertaining hobby for families, and has the added benefit of cultural enrichment.

Our family has discovered this magical alternative, and not only is it more fun than former traditions, but it has led us to cross new ethnic bridges of understanding… right at home where the heart is.

As our story goes, we were originally motivated by holiday boredom to start digging up our nation’s past in hopes of using it to make our annual Thanksgiving get-togethers more enjoyable. We were actually only after historical how-to information for setting a period-authentic table, and perhaps some instructions for a few authentic games.

But what we ended up discovering was a whole different world; one that none of us had heard of before.

The first real eye-opener was our discovery of the little known true-life story of Squanto – the Native Wampanoag man who provided survival-skills training to the Mayflower Pilgrims. Like most middle age Americans, I personally did recall being told he spoke English, but I could not for the life of me recall ever being told how he learned it.

This Native ally, Squanto, learned to speak English as a result of being taken into Europe to be sold as a slave. Although he didn’t end up a slave, he was there against his will for five years.

The great irony is that his ability to speak English is what made the 1621 English thanks-giving feast possible.

In addition to Squanto’s story, our family also came to hear for the first time the unfavorable Thanksgiving sentiments held by certain segments of our Native-American and African-American populations. These fellow countrymen are openly incensed by the farce that Thanksgiving continues to be; so full of stereotypes and lingering sanitization, that their hearts rail against it.

It appears that nobody is listening, but perhaps it is simply that nobody knows quite how to respond.

How do we adjust the auto pilot, and reinstate the less romantic parts of the whole “all-American” story? Slavery is still a taboo topic in many circles.

For starters it would help if more Americans understood the dog-eat-dog nature of the 1621 slave trade. In those days not only were Europeans preying on Africans and Native Americans, but Africans were preying on Africans, and North Africans were preying on Europeans.

What went around, came around.

But regardless of how it all went down, it remains that we are in need of creative ways to remove our holiday blinders, and face the real history. Being slow to do so has been like telling any trauma survivor that their story isn’t important.

Which only wounds the trauma survivor all over again.

Which brings us to the reasons why our family believes so strongly in the “new “ old-world way to celebrate this cultural holiday. Along with the obvious charms of this alternative, there are also fresh, realistic ways to approach the difficulties of our interracial beginnings.

For example, one tradition that we are adding this year is the placement of leg irons in the center of our Thanksgiving dinner table. For us it is definitely not about shame, but about love; this is an expression of our love toward our interracial and multi-cultural American family.

We are responding to those who have asked for historical reinstatement.

May there be peace in our expression: “We hear you, we love you, and we will never forget.”

And we hope that more American families will join with us and begin the Thanksgiving time travel journey in pursuit of reconnecting with our true “all-American” history. It turns out to be an amazing boon to holiday entertainment, and a powerful heritage trip very much worth taking.

The heart tells us so.

By Carrie Franzwa, LetsPlayHistory.org, Nov. 2008

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Carrie Franzwa, America’s “Angel of Thanksgiving,” is an advocate for restoring American history to the Thanksgiving holiday, and is the author of America’s first Thanksgiving living-history how-to book, “The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas: Old World Table Settings, Recipes, Games, Hand Crafts, and Party Ideas for Cultural Enrichment and Pleasure.” She and her husband, David Franzwa, are also the co-founders of LetsPlayHistory.org, an online community for history enthusiasts, reenactors, and educators in America.

]]> http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/press-room/leg-irons/feed/ 0 http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/press-room/america%e2%80%99s-angel-of-thanksgiving-sings-%e2%80%9ctake-up-thy-time-travel-wings%e2%80%9d/ http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/press-room/america%e2%80%99s-angel-of-thanksgiving-sings-%e2%80%9ctake-up-thy-time-travel-wings%e2%80%9d/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:51:36 +0000 admin http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/press-room/america%e2%80%99s-angel-of-thanksgiving-sings-%e2%80%9ctake-up-thy-time-travel-wings%e2%80%9d/ Thursday November 6, 2008 – Lebanon, Oregon – America’s newly awakened Angel of Thanksgiving, Carrie Franzwa, is heralding holiday reform, calling on Americans and retailers across the nation to change their holiday tune. Having kept watch over observances past, the Thanksgiving Angel is proclaiming it time to experience the real 1621 event, and to cease believing in the “Sunday best” dinner misnomer.

With a sparkle in her eye, Carrie the Thanksgiving Angel insists that very few Americans actually dress up and sit down to a perfectly appointed formal table. “It’s a boring notion,” says The Angel. “It’s also historically inaccurate, and very unobtainable for the average family that does not have a big home and a Team Martha to serve.”

The Angel tells her own wistful story. “I finally died of Thanksgiving boredom in 2006, after twenty-plus years of grinning and bearing it. In 2007 I arose with history in my wings, and decided to take my family on a time travel adventure instead. It was so much more fun, I knew this would be our holiday hobby for keeps.”

Now Carrie, The Angel of Thanksgiving, is calling all Angels – her fellow Americans – to join her in the new time travel alternative, and is offering fr*ee help online.

“I can’t wait for more families to experience the sights, sounds, culture and charms of re-creating 1621 life for Thanksgiving,” says The Angel. “They’ll get to experience things like the stirring music of the Wampanoag people; the vision of a table set in old-English style; the fun of period sports and table games; the recounting of Squanto’s journey to Europe as a slave; and the ever-present reality of the Barbary Pirates. All these things are part of revisiting early Plymouth.”

The Thanksgiving Angel has posted a fr*ee heavenly how-to article, 7 Quick-Tips for Thanksgiving Time Travel, which will get American families up and started in short order. The article is available at www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/carries-chat/7-tips-tg/ . Carrie is also working to make her new 1621 living-history how-to book, The American Patriot’s Treasury of Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, permanently available in its entirety online through Books.Google.com, ISBN 1-4392-0586-8. The book is also available in digital format with lifetime updates for $7.95 through LetsPlayHistory.org, or in paperback format for $19.95 through Amazon.com.

Hark! The Angel of Thanksgiving sings, “Glory to Time Travel Wings!”

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After we went to press this season I came across a source for Old-English phrases, insults and threats.  As a family we have started using them when playing cards, and it has added a whole new dimension of hilarity!  If you’re not laughing at how goofy your loved ones sound trying to speak archaic English, then you’ll just be plain tickled by the strange expressions.

So, since I didn’t come across these until after we went to print (2008), I thought I would post them here on the blog so people can enjoy them this year.

Also get more Thanksgiving Time Travel tips at: http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/carries-chat/7-tips-tg/

Have fun!

• aye  =  yes
• aye?  =  right?
• nay  =  no
• I’ee be loookin’ arrt fer ya  =  I am looking out for you (helping newbs learn the game)
• be righeet wahlcum  =  be right welcome (make yourself welcome here)
• g’-looohk t’ thee /ya  =  good luck to you
• I’ee’ull wayee-jarr a han-soohm ven-char  =  I’ll wager a handsome venture
• I’ee be yer hoohm-ble sarrvint  =  I am your humble servant
• the lot or ya bayee chaiters!  =  all of you are cheaters!
• thou doos’ chaite!  =  you do cheat!
• I’ee’ull breng me boot ter ya!  =  I’ll bring my boot to you! (I’ll kick you)
• blayss yer roosty ahrrt!  =  bless your rusty heart!
• remoof yar car-cahss!  =  remove your carcass! (get out of here)
• I’ee’ull sayee thee blayed!  =  I’ll see you bleed!
• whech bayee warse?  =  which is worse? (when deciding one’s cards)
• yer myeen’s oohn-henged  =  your mind is unhinged (you are crazy)
• hoold yher toongue  =  hold your tongue
• an’ bae doohn witt ett  =  and be done with it (hurry up)
• ‘eave a-hayd  =  heave ahead (press forward, or hurry up)
• sharr ‘n sarten arr ye?  =  sure and certain are you?

1. Make and Use English Serviettes – $20. It is fun and easy to use English serviette napkins! They were the near bath towel-sized table napkins of the time period, and were used by folding them twice lengthwise and draping them over the shoulder opposite the dominant hand. Complete details, including materials and finishing instructions, are provided in the LPH Thanksgiving guide, and also for free in this LPH blog post (see picture here): http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/carries-chat/serviette/ .

2. Omit Forks, Use Only Pointed Knives – $4. In 1620-21, neither the Native Wampanoag or the Europeans used forks to eat. In both cultures a pointed knife was used like the fork is used today. Native knives were made of stone, and English knives were made of straight-edge steel. Our local dollar store carries wood-handled pointed dinner knives 2 for $1. See what your local Dollar Store carries. Even though serrated, the Dollar Store knives provide an inexpensive prop for time travel starters! See period table settings:  http://www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/press-room/thanksgiving-pics-07-08/

3. Omit Salt & Pepper Shakers, Add a Salt Dip – $5. While the Native Wampanoag did not use salt and pepper in their cooking, the English did bring these condiments with them on the Mayflower. The English did not, however, put pepper out at the table, while the salt was set out in a central, open, small wood or pewter bowl called a “salt dip.” Diners used their pointed knife tips to scoop up a small amount of salt from the communal dip, and then would tap the back of the knife blade with their index finger to slowly knock the salt onto their food. Don’t forget to explain this up front to your hungry guests! Even if they don’t need the salt, curiosity will have them all wanting to experience dipping for salt in 1621-style!

4. Give Thanks English-Style – $0. The English in this time period prayed with eyes open and heaven-ward, and hands raised palms up. They also spoke in King James vernacular, using their “thee’s, thou’s and thine’s.” This can prove very humerous! Also, “God” was pronounced “Gott” in this time period.

5. Give Thanks Native Wampanoag-Style – $4. The Native Wampanoag had been giving thanks with fall maize offerings to the Great Spirit for centuries prior to the English 1621 feast. Colorful maize runs about $4 per three ears, which is enough for an offering. Simply burn the dried ears of maize completely in a fire before preparing the day’s food, and sing short, rhythmic, made-up songs of thanks-giving while it burns. Does maize corn pop? You will have to try popping it to find out!

6. Play (English) Card Games with a 1567 French Deck – $8. Even if you only play modern card games, why not play with a reproduction 1567 French deck? This reproduction deck is very typical of what was readily available to English royalty and commoners alike in the early 17^th century. The deck runs about $5 plus shipping, and is available through HistoricGames.com. You can also add Old-English phrases, insults and threats to the fun of playing card games. For complete instructions on over a dozen period-authentic Native and English games, including two authentic English card games, get your copy of the LPH Thanksgiving Guide . Never suffer a boring Thanksgiving again!

7. Make a Native Wampanoag Head Dress (or Two) – $8. Show kind respect to our Native Peoples by accurately depicting the Wampanoag tribes. The head dresses of the Wampanoags used only a small number of feathers, and they were always pointed down, or to the side; never up like the stereotyped plains Indians. Simply take a strip of leather or faux leather, and close the back side to size with sinew whip stitches, or with a tie / knot (sinew details in the guide). Insert or otherwise apply one or two medium to large bird feathers in the back, pointed down or to the side. And don’t forget: the Wampanoag word for “hello” is “kway,” not “how.” More Wampanoag words, phrases, customs, music resources and clothing details are available in The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas.

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By Carrie Franzwa, LetsPlayHistory.org, copyright 2008