Before a single Pilgrim set foot in Plymouth, the people of New Jersey were already giving thanks. In this episode, we explore the Lenape Green Corn Ceremony — a harvest thanksgiving older than the colonies — and stand with George Washington in the bitter winter of Morristown as he prays for the survival of his army. Gratitude on New Jersey soil didn’t begin with turkey and trimmings. It began with humility, endurance, and the recognition that Providence carries us when we cannot carry ourselves.

Part 1 of Crossroads of Thanksgiving: Two Peoples, One Prayer.

#newjerseyhistory #lenape #americanrevolution #morristown #thanksgiving #washington #revolutionnj #historypodcast #indigenoushistory #gratitude

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Lenape / Indigenous Thanksgiving Practices

• ​Kraft, Herbert C. The Lenape: Archaeology, History, and Lifeways. Seton Hall University Press.
• ​Weslager, C. A. The Delaware Indians: A History. University of Oklahoma Press.
• ​Goddard, Ives. “Delaware.” Handbook of North American Indians, Northeast (Smithsonian Institution).
• ​Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania. “Ceremonies: Green Corn Festival.”

Washington at Morristown

• ​The Papers of George Washington, Founders Online (National Archives).
• ​Washington, George. Letters from Morristown Winter Encampment, 1779–1780.
• ​Fischer, David Hackett. Washington’s Crossing. Oxford University Press.
• ​Morristown National Historical Park (NPS): Encampment Records and Interpretive Materials.