The Magic Tree House is a popular children's book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. One of the installments in the series is titled "Thanksgiving on Thursday." In this book, the main characters Jack and Annie, who are siblings, travel back in time to the year 1621. They arrive in Plymouth, Massachusetts, just in time for the first Thanksgiving celebration between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans. As they explore the historical setting, Jack and Annie learn about the hardships faced by the Pilgrims, such as the long voyage on the Mayflower and the difficulties of starting a new colony in an unfamiliar land. They also learn about the cooperation between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe, which led to the eventual harvest feast that became known as Thanksgiving.
They also learn about the cooperation between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe, which led to the eventual harvest feast that became known as Thanksgiving. Throughout the story, Jack and Annie meet historical figures like Squanto, a Native American who helps the Pilgrims survive in their new surroundings. They also witness the kindness and generosity that characterized the first Thanksgiving, where everyone came together to share food and celebrate the harvest.
Goddesses and Women in Ancient Religion and Ritual
Following on from our insight discussing maenads, the female followers of the god Dionysus, we wanted to look more broadly at the role of female deities in the mythologies, religion and rituals of the ancient world.
Women had an important place in the religions of the ancient world, as priestesses, votaries, and mourners. In Classical Greece women took part in religious festivals, including the Panathenaia to honour Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, and the goddess of wisdom, war and weaving. It is interesting that in a culture of such female social restraint, the goddesses were deemed to be extremely powerful, advising the great Greek heroes of myth and legend, and acting as patrons to major city states.
As part of their role in ritual and religion, Greek women participated in the Eleusinian Mysteries in honour of the earth goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Other festivals were restricted to women, such as the Thesmophoria, the Haloa, and the Skira, all of which, like the Eleusinian Mysteries, focused on the fertile power of women and their importance in rebirth and regeneration. Such myths emphasised the critical importance of traditional female roles, reiterating social values and guaranteeing the survival of society.
OF CERES SET IN AN ANTIQUE GOLD RING
Circa 2nd - 3rd century AD
Ring size: UK K
The concept of female fecundity and regeneration is an intrinsic part of every mythology. Statuettes of women with large breasts and stomachs, found in Çatalhöyük and Hacilar, suggest that mother goddesses were already worshipped in Anatolia in the 7th and 6th millennia BC. Cybele, a successor to these deities was an Anatolian mother goddess whose worship was eventually adopted by Greece and later Rome. In Homeric Hymn 14 she is ‘the mother of all gods and all human beings.’ The Romans identified her with the Greek goddess Rhea and called her ‘Magna Mater’. In votive and cult statuary Cybele is shown with lions, a symbol of her power over wild nature.
Egyptian mythology features a fascinating account of the regenerative powers of women. Isis was married to Osiris, king of Egypt, when his jealous brother Seth usurped his throne and hacked his brother into pieces. Isis was able to reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body with only his penis missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole and nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne, becoming the most powerful of the Egyptian gods. Isis is frequently depicted suckling the child Horus and was frequently invoked as a goddess of protection. Yet with her ability to heal and create life, her magic was formidable, transcending that of all the other deities.
Although Aphrodite is often shown as a mother, depicted with her winged son Eros, her more traditional role is as a deity of sexual love, fertility, and beauty. Such goddesses were an equally important feature of ancient myth and religion and festivals for Aphrodite/Venus in the Graeco-Roman world, and for Hathor in ancient Egypt, were celebrated annually. The Aphrodisia festivals at Corinth and Athens in Ancient Greece, as well as the Roman Veneralia festival, were an opportunity for the many prostitutes of those cities to celebrate their patron goddess Aphrodite/Venus. The festival for Hathor at Dendera is thought to have involved a great deal of drinking and dancing.
A GREEK GOLD RING
Classical Period, circa 450-400 BC
Width of bezel: 1.8 cm; diameter: 2.2 cm; ring size: P
There is a great deal to be gleaned about the roles of women in antiquity through examination of the rituals in which they participated, the festivals they attended, and the goddesses they worshipped. The societies of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East generally offered limited freedoms to women, but through ritual activities and religious positions, they arguably leave their greatest stamp on the archaeological record. This may be through their votive offerings, mourning images and funerary goods, as well statuary and inscriptions recording for posterity the roles they played as priestesses.
Religion: Religions of the Paleolithic era were distinctly different from modern religions in that they were heavily influenced by nature, usually polytheistic, and, importantly, honored female goddesses almost in equal number to male gods. These goddesses and gods had power over certain aspects of human life and the worshipers would pray to the particular god to address their need. Worship was ritualistic, spiritual, and varied from tribe to tribe, region to region. Sexuality was evidently important as gods and goddesses had extenuated genitalia and many of the early myths included details of procreation.
"Thanksgiving on Thursday" is a vibrant and educational introduction to the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. It transports young readers to the past and encourages them to appreciate the importance of gratitude and coming together as a community. Through the adventures of Jack and Annie, this book teaches children about the origins of Thanksgiving and the significance of this holiday in American culture. It also showcases the importance of understanding and respecting different cultures and traditions. Overall, "Thanksgiving on Thursday" is a delightful addition to the Magic Tree House series. It combines history, adventure, and lessons about gratitude in a way that captivates young readers and instills valuable lessons about the spirit of Thanksgiving..
Reviews for "Learning about Gratitude and Thanksgiving in the Magic Tree House"
1. John - 2 stars - As a long-time fan of the Magic Tree House series, I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House Thanksgiving". The story felt rushed and lacked the depth and magic that the previous books had. The characters didn't seem as well-developed and the plot was predictable. Overall, it felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on the holiday theme.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - I was excited to read "Magic Tree House Thanksgiving" as a way to learn more about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. However, I found the book to be quite boring and lacking in educational value. The historical facts were presented in a very shallow way and it didn't really engage me as a reader. I was expecting a more in-depth exploration of the holiday, but this book fell short.
3. David - 2 stars - "Magic Tree House Thanksgiving" was a major letdown for me. The writing style felt juvenile and the characters were one-dimensional. I expected more from the highly acclaimed series. The story felt rushed and the events seemed disconnected. It didn't hold my interest and I struggled to finish it. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written Thanksgiving story.
4. Lisa - 2 stars - I found "Magic Tree House Thanksgiving" to be a disappointing addition to the series. The plot was weak and the storytelling felt uninspired. The historical context was shallow and didn't do justice to the significance of Thanksgiving. I would have liked to see more depth and complexity in the story. Overall, it was a forgettable read that didn't live up to the standards of the Magic Tree House series.
5. Michael - 1 star - "Magic Tree House Thanksgiving" was a complete waste of time. The story was predictable and unexciting. It lacked the enchantment and sense of adventure that I loved in the previous books. The characters were cliché and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially fans of the Magic Tree House series.