| Since Thanksgiving was declared as an official | | | | pine cones, ears of weath, oak leaves, miniature |
| yearly holiday in 1941, people have developed a | | | | Indian corn, acorns are available in any retail store |
| trend of decorating their houses and lawns or | | | | and even at the local road side flea market or |
| yards with items related to the wonderful fall and | | | | farmer's market. |
| harvest season. These decorations originated | | | | Obviously, if you want to save a lot of money |
| from several old European customs; when people | | | | while having some fun, you can create your |
| celebrated the end of the harvest season; while | | | | Thanksgiving decorations by yourself. |
| the twentieth century gave birth to another sort | | | | Homemade Thankgiving Craft #1: The |
| of items. | | | | Foddershock |
| These are decorations like bundles of cornstalks | | | | Building a foddershock is very easy. You just |
| and foddershocks usually set round with | | | | have to get a good number dried corn stalks, |
| vegetables and fruits: pumpkins, gourds, cushaw | | | | generally left in a corn field after a harvest, and |
| and other Autumn items that we can see on the | | | | bind them in the midsection of the bundle to |
| lawns or yards of a lot of houses. | | | | create some kind of 'tepee' shaped bunching. |
| A great example is the "wicker man", made out | | | | Select the area of your garden or yard where |
| from straw or wicker, filled with fruits from the | | | | you will stand the foddershock and sit a |
| harvest that was burned in the honor of the | | | | scarecrow close to it. Don't forget to add some |
| gods; which has been inspired by an old European | | | | Autumn details like pumpkins, gourds, and diverse |
| pagan custom. | | | | winter squashes. |
| Another of those decorations stemming from | | | | Make Your Own Scarecrow |
| these old customs is the wreath. A wreath was | | | | To build scarecrows just bind two sticks firmly |
| made out of woven grapevines or thin oak limbs | | | | together forming a cross. Put a long sleeved shirt |
| and was generally decorated with wooden pine | | | | on the sticks - preferably a jean or flannel shirt - |
| cones, oak leaves, miniature Indian corn, acorns | | | | as well as an old pair of pants. You might want to |
| and many other natural items from the Autumn | | | | add a few more details like gardening gloves or |
| season. | | | | shoes... Make a head by stuffing an old pillow case |
| The twentieth century opened a new era of | | | | or cloth sack with papers, old rags or fiberfill. |
| profit to entrepreneurs, giving them the | | | | Draw a face on the head and then stick the head |
| opportunity to sell more detailed decorations | | | | on top of the upright stick, binding it at the base |
| items for Thanksgiving, such as tableware, table | | | | of the sack to the stick. Place an old hat on it and |
| cloth, decorated with fall shapes, candles, artificial | | | | ... that's it! |
| vegetation, ornamental lights, and so much more! | | | | Head alternative: use a jack-o-lantern. |
| You can buy cute little "Tom Turkey" stand-ups | | | | There are so many great, money-saving, and |
| to sit on your tables and pictures of happy | | | | simple decorations you can create. Use your |
| settlers and native American folks gathered | | | | creativity and start your own traditional |
| around a table enjoying a "traditional" Thanksgiving | | | | Thanksgiving decorations! |
| dinner. Ready-made foddershocks, fall wreaths, | | | | |