Pilgrims, Indians ... and other stuff

Chris Rosenblum

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP — Ben Harrington needed only seconds to explain why he’s tucking into turkey today.

Second-grader Ben Hults fills his plate during the Young Scholars celebration.

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“To honor the first Thanksgiving and because we’re giving thanks for stuff we need,” he said.

Ben, who’s 8, and other elementary students at the Young Scholars Charter School enjoyed a Thanksgiving lunch on Tuesday with their parents and teachers. In between bites, the children took stabs at explaining the meaning of the holiday, and how exactly the big meal gets cooked at home.

Several eagerly recited fresh knowledge of the Pilgrims, who, according to Willem Duiker, 7, “were the ones who made Thanksgiving.”

Denae Hurd, 8, began the story with the settlers coming “to this little island in America” and planting crops for the winter.

“They had a big feast,” she said. “They had Thanksgiving because they wanted to thank all the men and women who helped them.”

Delaney Kenyon, 9, remembered the American Indians’ pivotal role.

“And the Indian Squanto came up and he knew good English, so they were able to understand him,” she said. “So he taught them how to catch fish, catch animals and grow crops. So to celebrate and give thanks to him, they had food.”

According to Ethan Eiserloh, 7, “we celebrate the day the Pilgrims came.” Josie Dorius, 8, came up with a different take.

“It’s a holiday the Pilgrims celebrated,” she said. “It was kind of like a peace between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.”

And then there were the briefer explanations. “Because it’s fun,” said 6-year-old Gretta Hoffman- Aho.

“To give thanks for everything in our lives that we love,” said 8- year-old Mykhala Richner.

Tess Wright, 7, elaborated a little more: “Because lots of people do very good things, and we have to thank them for that.”

And what about the cooking? “I don’t really know,” she said. Others offered their best guesses.

“Pretty much get some food and some spices and you put it together and make the food,” Josie said.

Fiona Combs, 7, sees Thanksgiving dinner as no big deal for her parents. “They buy the turkey, buy the vegetables and then they fix it,” she said.

At Jessie Zhang’s house, her mother “invites friends over and we eat and play.”

Yes, but what takes place in the kitchen?

“My mom does all that stuff,” said 7-year-old Jessie. “Don’t ask me.”

Ben Harrington knows a little about preparing the turkey, especially the crucial first step: “Usually, we make sure it’s thawed, of course.”

After he helps his mother “put any spices on it,” into the oven goes the bird.

“Usually, my family cooks it for 10 to 30 minutes, and when it’s done, we always make sure we cut it,” he said. “And we have other stuff, like lettuce, meat, other stuff like that at the table. Because what’s Thanksgiving without other stuff?”

Chris Rosenblum can be reached at 231-4620.

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