constillations
Slaves called the Big Dipper the "Drinking Gourd" because its shape resembled a gourd or ladle that could be used for drinking water. Slaves used the Drinking Gourd as a navigational tool to help them escape to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Slaves called the Big Dipper the "Drinking Gourd" as a way to navigate their escape to freedom. They used its position in the night sky to find the North Star, which pointed them north towards freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Slaves referred to the Big Dipper as the "Drinking Gourd" as it resembled a water dipper or ladle that was used for drinking water. This helped slaves navigate their way north to freedom by following its direction towards the North Star.
When people saw something in the sky that looked like a bear.
the bear looks like a dipper.
the drinking gourd
The code word for the Big Dipper in the underground railroad song was "Follow the Drinking Gourd." This was a reference to using the constellation of the Big Dipper as a navigational guide to escape to the North.
Slaves called the Big Dipper the "Drinking Gourd" because its shape resembled a gourd or ladle that could be used for drinking water. Slaves used the Drinking Gourd as a navigational tool to help them escape to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
follow the drinking gourd
The "Drinking Gourd" is an alternate name of the Big Dipper, an asterism (star formation) in the northern sky. The dipper stars in the "bowl" of the Big Dipper point to Polaris, the pole star. Walking towards the pole star (following the Drinking Gourd) takes you northwards.
it was sung by runaway slaves. the 'drinking gourd' is in reference to the big dipper (the stars)
Yes. The slaves would sing a song from the underground railroad and the line they would repeat was; "Follow the Drinking Gourd" Which told the slaves to follow the Big Dipper, North to freedom.
The Big Dipper or The Drinking Gourd, depending on which culture. In England, it's called the Plough.
Slaves called the Big Dipper the "Drinking Gourd" as a way to navigate their escape to freedom. They used its position in the night sky to find the North Star, which pointed them north towards freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Slaves referred to the Big Dipper as the "Drinking Gourd" as it resembled a water dipper or ladle that was used for drinking water. This helped slaves navigate their way north to freedom by following its direction towards the North Star.
They sing it so the slaves would sing it while they were working to tell other slaves to follow the drinking gourd big dipper the tonight and it will lead them to freedom.
Ursa Major/The Great Bear/The Plough/The Big Dipper/The Drinking Gourd.