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Thanksgiving Tradition: Five Kernels of Corn

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This year we are having a small Thanksgiving with just the people who live in our home. It will definitely be different than normal, but we are upping the Thanksgiving traditions to make it more special.  Today I want to share with you a fun and simple Thanksgiving tradition that I love, the Legend of the Five Kernels of Corn.

five kernels of corn thanksgiving tradition

This Thanksgiving tradition is a wonderful gratitude activity to recognize how much you have and how blessed you are each year during the holidays. A friend of mine just introduced it to me and I am excited to implement it this year in our home.

See More Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities:  Gratitude Game, Gratitude Garland, Gratitude Journal

Thanksgiving Tradition: The Legend of the Five Kernels of Corn

If you have ever read the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder you may remember this story.  (Those are some of our favorite books!)

The legend goes that in 1623, two years after the first Thanksgiving, there was a drought which led to a famine for the pilgrims.  William Bradford was the leader of the colony.  He said their situation was similar to the Romans who were said to survive on a ration of five kernels of corn.

They were not entirely without food, but were slowly starving our to the lack of grain. Bradford said that they would have considered five kernels of corn (or maize) as good as a feast! From then on, the legend says that they celebrated Thanksgiving by beginning their fest with five kernels of corn on their plate.

What Each of the Five Kernels of Corn Represent:

five kernels of corn image

  1. The first kernel reminds us of the Autumn beauty all around us.
  2. The second kernel reminds us of our love for one another.
  3. The third kernel reminds us of God’s love and care for us.
  4. The fourth kernel reminds us of all our many friends.
  5. The fifth kernel reminds us of that we are a free people.

I have a printable you can use. Here is a modified version without the mention of God to use in schools, too.

Want to start this “Five Kernels of Corn” Thanksgiving Tradition?

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five kernels of corn Thanksgiving tradition

This turned into a Thanksgiving tradition, practiced by many at the beginning of a Thanksgiving feast. It helps people remember the famine and be grateful for the bounty that you have.  It’s a beautiful tradition!  We are excited to start it this year in our family.

This year, though it has been a hard one for us and for many, we have so much still to be grateful for. Our family has been spending the week leading up to Thanksgiving focusing on gratitude and giving thanks for all that we have.  This fun little legend and tradition seems the perfect thing to add in.

I plan on printing the five things that the corn represents and placing it on each place setting along with five kernels on each person’s plate.  We will read it together at the beginning of our meal and eat the five kernels before our Thanksgiving meal.

There is a famous 19th century poem by Hezekiah Butterworth that is fun to read while teaching or telling of the legend of the Five Kernels of Corn.

Grab all of this in my Free Printable by subscribing now!!

Five kernels of corn thanksgiving poem

Five Kernels of Corn

by Hezekiah Butterworth

‘Twas the year of the famine in Plymouth of old,
The ice and the snow from the thatched roofs had rolled;
Through the warm purple skies steered the geese o’er the seas,
And the woodpeckers tapped in the clocks of the trees;
And the boughs on the slopes to the south winds lay bare,
And dreaming of summer, the buds swelled in the air.
The pale Pilgrims welcomed each reddened morn;
There were left but for rations Five Kernels of Corn.
Five Kernels of Corn!
Five Kernels of Corn!
But to Bradford a feast were Five Kernels of Corn!

Five Kernels of Corn! Five Kernels of Corn!
Ye people, be glad for Five Kernels of Corn!
So Bradford cried out on bleak Burial Hill,
And the thin women stood in their doors, white and still.
Lo, the harbor of Plymouth rolls bright in the Spring,
The maples grow red, and the wood robins sing,
The west wind is blowing, and fading the snow
And pleasant pines sing, and arbutuses blow.
Five Kernels of Corn!
Five Kernels of Corn!
To each one be given Five Kernels of Corn!

O Bradford of Austerfield hast on the way.
The west winds are blowing o’er Provincetown Bay,
The white avens bloom, but the pine domes are chill,
And new graves have furrowed Precisioners’ Hill!
Give thanks, all ye people, the warm skies have come,
The hilltops are sunny, and green grows the holm,
And the trumpets of wins, and the white March is gone,
And ye still have left you
Five Kernels of Corn!
Five Kernels of Corn!
Five Kernels of Corn!
Ye have for Thanksgiving Five Kernels of Corn!

The raven’s gift eat and be humble and pray,
A new light is breaking, and Truth leads your way;
One taper a thousand shall kindle; rejoice
That to you has been given the wilderness voice!
O Bradford of Austerfield, daring the wave,
And safe through the sounding blasts leading the brave,
Of deeds such as thine was the free nation born,
And the festal world sings the “Five Kernels of Corn.”
Five Kernels of Corn!
Five Kernels of Corn!
The nation gives thanks for Five Kernels of Corn!
To the Thanksgiving Feast bring Five Kernels of Corn!

Five kernels of corn pin

More Thanksgiving Traditions We Love as a Family:

Running a Turkey Trot
Watching the Macy’s Day Parade
Baking tons of pies (pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate pie, coconut cream pie, triple berry pie)
Since the women usually cook, the men are on clean-up duty!
Playing the Gratitude Game
Keeping a Gratitude Journal leading up to Thanksgiving Day
Doing some “Thankful For”  Thanksgiving Activities
Turkey Tag with the Kids (or other active outdoor games to keep them busy)

What are your family’s favorite Thanksgiving Traditions?

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One Comment

  1. I have to say that this post made me tear up a little bit!! What a special reminder and tradition to have with your family and now. mine!! Sometimes, it is hard to remember all the blessings we have and this brings such a small simple but profound message that it depends on our mindset and view of how blessed our lives truly are.

    thank you for reminding me how much I truly have to be grateful for!!

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