Things have changed significantly since the first Thanksgiving, and the traditions we share now might not have been the norm when it first started. Neither was the feast. You wouldn’t have seen mashed potatoes, cranberry stuffing, or heaps of dessert.
Wild Fowl
Although turkey has become a staple food for any Thanksgiving feast, it was not even on the menu in 1621. The settlers had access to abundant wild birds in the area, so ducks, geese, or swans were more likely to be on the menu because they were so readily available.
Seafood
Being so close to coastal areas means there was most likely a lot of seafood as part of the first means you wouldn’t find in a traditional Thanksgiving meal today. The Wampanoag people were skilled in fishing and would have contributed various types of fish, including bass, herring, and eel, commonly found in the area’s rivers and streams. Including seafood also highlighted the collaboration between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag.
Corn
For a modern-day Thanksgiving, you might find cornbread on the table, which is very close to the first meal. While it might not have been cornbread, corn was part of it. The Wampanoag had been growing corn for centuries and taught the settlers how to plant it by burying fish with seeds to enrich the soil. By the time it was Thanksgiving, corn would have been a big part of their feast.
Pumpkin
It’s sad that pumpkin pie wasn’t on the menu, but it most definitely was. Pumpkin and other squash varieties were commonly grown in the area and easily stored for the colder months. They had various ways of cooking their veggies.
Berries
While fruit may not have been widely available, some fruits, like wild berries, were. You wouldn’t see cranberry stuffing on the table, but you might see fresh or other fruit-infused fruit. Some berries you might have seen on their table were cranberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
Beer And Cider
They often avoided drinking water because they were afraid of getting sick. Instead, they considered beer and other types of drinks safer options. The Wampanoag may have also introduced the settlers to fermented drinks from native fruits like berries or wild grapes.
Where Did The First Thanksgiving Take Place?
The first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims settled there in December 1620, having established the Plymouth Colony. By the fall of 1621, they had survived the harsh winter and formed a tentative alliance with the Wampanoag people. While no one can say where the exact location was, it was most probably held outdoors, close to the settlement.
What You Wouldn’t Have Seen On Their Table
While it’s quite obvious that some items we enjoy today wouldn’t have been present on the menu back then, you might be shocked to know that turkey might not have been part of the first Thanksgiving. At the time of this meal, turkey was not as common as some of the other wild fowl in the area. Over years the tradition grew and turkey became part of that tradition, but it most definitely didn’t start as one.
The First Thanksgiving
There is a lot of speculation as to what was on the dinner table during the first Thanksgiving, and while we might never be 100% sure, we can make some pretty educated guesses based on what we know was available at the time in that area. The most important thing is that Thanksgiving has carried over from generation to generation, and today, we get to celebrate with our loved ones.
References:
What Food Was Served at the First Thanksgiving in 1621?
What Food Was *Actually* Served at the First Thanksgiving
What did they eat at the very first Thanksgiving in 1621?
