Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Thanksgiving & Harvest Home

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

1. Thanksgiving & Harvest Home Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

New England Puritans celebrated their November Thanksgiving as a substitute for Christmas which was forbidden to them. Pa. Gay Dutch celebrated Christmas & had their own Thanksgiving called Harvest Home.

A cultural conflict resulted when New England's Thanksgiving tradition invaded Dutch Pa. For many years, Pennsylvanians looked on Thanksgiving as just another unwanted Yankee trick & they refused to celebrate it.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 40° 31.086′ N, 75° 46.983′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Bush Meeting (here, next to this marker); Cider (here, next to this marker); The Plain Dutch (a few steps from this marker); New Year's Day Lore (a few steps from this marker); The Candlemaker

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(a few steps from this marker); Funeral Feasts (a few steps from this marker); Dutch Folksong Tradition (a few steps from this marker); Dew of Heaven (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.

Regarding Thanksgiving & Harvest Home. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call

Also see . . .
1. A Pennsylvania Dutch Thanksgiving. Saveur website entry (Submitted on April 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Pennsylvania German Society. Society website homepage (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. University website entry (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

4. Kutztown Folk Festival. Website homepage (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Thanksgiving & Harvest Home Marker and Other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

2. Thanksgiving & Harvest Home Marker and Other Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 424 times since then and 201 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.