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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.
What else can I help you with?
How did underground slaves know where to go?
The clues are found in Follow the Drinking Gourd.
What was the purpose of slave spirituals like follow the drinking gourd?
Follow The Drinking Gourd was giving directions to freedom. Every other sentence had directions on where to go to find the man who will lead you to freedom. We just did this unit in my English class. Hope this helps.
What were some hymns used as symbols by the slaves to escape through the underground railroad?
I believe one was "Follow the Drinking Gourd".
When slaves escaped how did they find their way?
Escaping slaves were often helped by volunteers in an organization known as the Underground Railroad (a metaphorical name; there was no actual railroad involved). Aside from that, escaping slaves just had to go north to get out of the slave holding states, so as navigational problems go it was fairly simple. It is possible to determine which way is north by examining the stars; the Big Dipper (also known during this era as the Drinking Gourd, based on African tradition) is in the north. There is a charming folk song from this era, Follow The Drinking Gourd.
What is a juicy gourd?
Melon
Where is the Drinking Gourd Project in Concord Massachusetts located?
The address of the Drinking Gourd Project is: Po Box 506, Concord, MA 01742-0506
Why is the drinking gourd important?
A drinking gourd is simply a gourd (kind of like a dried out squash) that had been hollowed out to use as a sort of ladle to contain liquid.
What is the web address of the Drinking Gourd Project in Concord Massachusetts?
The web address of the Drinking Gourd Project is: www.drinkinggourdproject.org
What was the song follow the drinking gourd used for?
it was sung by runaway slaves. the 'drinking gourd' is in reference to the big dipper (the stars)
Follow the drinking gourd?
the secret code
What was the code name for the big dipper?
the drinking gourd
What was the code word in the underground railroad song for the big dipper?
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.
What did slaves call the big dipper?
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.
What is slaves songs for the big dipper?
follow the drinking gourd
Why was the big dipper called the drinking gourd?
The Big Dipper was called the "drinking gourd" by slaves in the United States because they believed its shape resembled a hollowed-out gourd that could be used for drinking water. This nickname was used as a way to remember the star formation and to help guide them to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Where can you listen to Follow the Drinking Gourd?
on youtube or you can look in a book or at school
What are the release dates for Reading Rainbow - 1983 Follow the Drinking Gourd 10-1?
Reading Rainbow - 1983 Follow the Drinking Gourd 10-1 was released on: USA: 18 October 1993
