written by Rachel Cupps, Minnehaha Creek Guide and Minnehaha 3rd years

At Great River School we enjoy building community. One way that we do that is to celebrate together. In Minnehaha Creek, we take time to learn about different cultures and how they may celebrate various holidays. Before fall break our class discussed Harvest Celebrations and how people throughout time have always celebrated the abundance of fall.

Once we did some research we decided how we would like to celebrate the fall harvest. We came together to bake bread and apple cake. We cooked a dish using the three sisters corn, beans and squash. We also made wild rice.

Here is what the third years shared with the class about our celebration:

Henry- “People in China think the moon is very important. People celebrate this day with a festival. They celebrate the moon in autumn time.”

Amma- “We can eat corn beans and squash, the three sisters. They help each other like the Wampanoag people helped the pilgrims.”

Ezra- “My favorite harvest story is the three sisters and the fox.”
Kamaria- “I think harvest fest is a celebration of happiness and joy and festivity. The food we eat today is special because it reminds us about the people who came before us. On this holiday family time is the most important time of the year. “

Audrey- “Why I like this holiday is the colors and the food. We are going to bring that to you today. We have moon cake and apple cake and this holiday is about happiness and kindness.”

Margot- “The wild rice is important to the Ojibwe people. The rice is nice.”

Other classes find their own way to build community and celebrate togetherness. As we move into other holidays we will remember kindness, togetherness and be thankful for all we have.