FAQ’s for the Press
Q: What makes this Thanksgiving approach different?
A: It utilizes living history as an at-home entertainment, or hobby for the holiday.
Q: Why is living history beneficial as a Thanksgiving hobby?
A: It makes learning our cultural history enjoyable through the element of “play.”
Q: What precipitated the alternative for the Franzwa family?
A: Boredom. The robotic traditions of football and a formal dinner had little appeal.
Q: Who is participating?
A: It is too early to tell.
Q: How receptive have American Indians been to the approach?
A: We have not yet received feedback from Indian Country. We anticipate that the potential for dispelling certain stereotypes will be applauded, but the continued holding of the Indian image as one in history, and not current, may raise concern.
Q: Can interested parties preview the handbook?
A: Yes. The handbook, The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, Second Edition is available to preview in its entirety online at Lulu.com/TeachFromTheHeart. Members of the press may also request a digital download by emailing Carrie Franzwa at
TIPSofOregon [ @ ] Centurytel.net.
Q: Are pictures available for use by the press?
A: Yes. Most of the images on this website can be used (email for specifics). All of our image stock is low resolution, 72 or 96 dpi.
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Press Release 10-1-09, National Diversity Day
Last modified on 2009-10-25 14:50:47 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Reality Thanksgiving Revolution rides coattail of National Diversity Day; declares make-over on All-American holiday
New Thanksgiving alternative invites families to participate in a cultural revolution that promises to restore America’s forgotten multi-cultural heritage to the beloved holiday. Supports the directive of National Diversity Day.
Lebanon, Oregon – October 1, 2009 – Through sharing a unique Time Travel alternative for Thanksgiving, homemaker and author Carrie Franzwa hopes to inspire a cultural revolution in the way Americans celebrate the age-old holiday. Following the lead of National Diversity Day, Franzwa seeks to raise awareness about traditional Thanksgiving observances which are Euro-centric and stereotyped, and which fail to recognize the ethnic diversity of our founding history. Her novel approach invites Americans to trade up for the holiday by taking up the hobby of adding living history at home on Thanksgiving.
Franzwa contends that after generations of traditionalist K-12 history textbook whitewashing, Americans have developed the false impression that our history is boring and irrelevant. Coupled with the Aryan mindset that has prevailed in this country for centuries, and going hand-in-hand with the social impressions instilled by Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows of 1883 to 1913, it can be argued that the traditional Thanksgiving holiday has long been out of touch with reality.
“Reality is always better than fiction,” asserts Franzwa. “If it wasn’t so, reality TV would not have become the phenomenon that it has in recent years. Americans just don’t realize that history study must include uncensored controversy to be of interest. Time Traveling for Thanksgiving provides Americans with a unique opportunity to turn things around, and get in touch with the interest and controversy of our diverse cultural heritage.”
Some of the missing historical pieces that Franzwa has re-introduced to her family Thanksgiving get-togethers include the French and Algerian pirates of 1620-21, the culture of the Wampanoag people, the direct connection with slaving practices, and English renaissance culture.
“We even commemorate the little known fact that the Spanish founded this country first, not the English,” said Franzwa.
To aid in the holiday diversity movement, Franzwa has launched a new concept website and blog at IdeasThanksgiving.com, and has released an expanded edition of America’s first how-to handbook for adding living history at home on Thanksgiving. The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, Second Edition, is available in digital format for $7.99 through Lulu.com, and softcover for $21.95 through Amazon.com, Lulu.com, and retail bookstores, ISBN 978-0-557-08714-3 .
Carrie Franzwa is a veteran home educator K-8, and a living history enthusiast who has authored seven K-12 education titles. The Franzwa family maintains an online storefront at Lulu.com/TeachFromTheHeart, and organizes community Thanksgiving events in their hometown of Lebanon, Oregon. For more information about Carrie and the Franzwa family, or about IdeasThanksgiving.com and the historical Thanksgiving how-to guide, contact Carrie Franzwa at 541-259-6617days/eves, or 541-258-1566 Thursdays and Fridays from 10-5.
Contact Info:
Carrie Franzwa
TIPS of Oregon / IdeasThanksgiving.com
59 Eaton Street, Ste. B
Lebanon, OR 97355
Phone: 541-259-6617 days/eves, or 541-258-1566 Thu & Fri 10-5
email: TIPSofOregon [@] centurytel.net (remove spaces and brackets)
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Press Release 11-03-09, IdeasThanksgiving.com’s living history hobby
Last modified on 2009-11-03 12:32:21 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
IdeasThanksgiving.com showcases at-home living history hobby
New website, IdeasThanksgiving.com, shows American families how to re-create 17th century English, French pirate, and Native Wampanoag living history at home for the holiday.
Lebanon, Oregon – November 3, 2009 – The David and Carrie Franzwa Family of Lebanon, Oregon has launched IdeasThanksgiving.com, a new holiday hobby website that teaches living history as a unique Thanksgiving alternative. The site focuses on early 17th century English, French pirate, and Native Wampanoag cultures, and provides historical how-to information and quick-start resources so families can easily participate in the novel approach.
Franzwa family matriarch, Carrie Franzwa, turned to living history for Thanksgiving in 2007 after realizing the depth of her and her family’s boredom with the holiday. “If you’re not a foodie or football fan, you’re flat out of luck for having any fun on Thanksgiving,” said Franzwa. “I adore my family, but Thanksgiving itself had become a chore, not a vacation break. We needed something different.”
Inspired by her love for living history Franzwa chose to deviate from the traditional observance and attempt a flashback to 1621 New England. Finding no resources for homemakers she was only able to research table settings and certain customs that first year. Her family of teens and adults were unsure of their enthusiasm for planned changes, but their positive response to her efforts on Thanksgiving Day were so encouraging she decided to continue her research and make living history a new holiday tradition.
In 2008 the Franzwa family added Renaissance-era costumes, games, and decorating to their historical mix. This year the Franzwa family will be adding French pirates, which have a clear connection to 1621 Plymouth.
“We are learning amazing things about our history even though that hasn’t been our primary objective” said Carrie Franzwa. “The learning just happens when you’re having fun trying to re-create the past.”
The Franzwa family hopes their enthusiasm for the new hobby proves infectious. To help others more easily join in the alternative hobby, the Franzwa family is sharing their knowledgebase, books, and free quick-start aids, including how to set an authentic 1621 table, at their new website IdeasThanksgiving.com.
Carrie Franzwa is a veteran home educator K-8, and a living history enthusiast who has authored seven K-12 education titles. The Franzwa family maintains an online storefront at Lulu.com/TeachFromTheHeart, and organizes community Thanksgiving events in their hometown of Lebanon, Oregon. For more information about Carrie Franzwa and the Franzwa family, or about IdeasThanksgiving.com and the historical Thanksgiving how-to guide, The American Patriot’s Treasury of Historical Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas, contact Carrie Franzwa at 541-259-6617 days/eves, or 541-258-1566 on Thursdays and Fridays 10-5.
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Contact:
Carrie Franzwa
IdeasThanksgiving.com, a Division of TIPS of Oregon
59 Eaton Street, Ste. B
Lebanon, Oregon 97355
Phone: 541-259-6617 / 541-258-1566
Email: TIPSofOregon [@] centurytel.net (remove spaces and brackets)
Tags: ideas thanksgiving, ideas for thanksgiving, alternative thanksgiving ideas, unique thanksgiving
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Posted October 1, 2009 by Admin
