The first Thanksgiving dinner, celebrated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621, has become a significant holiday in the United States, traditionally marked by families gathering to give thanks for the harvest. However, the menu enjoyed by the early colonists and the Wampanoag tribe was quite different from the modern feasts we recognize today.
Contrary to popular belief, the iconic stuffed turkey was likely not the centerpiece at the original gathering. At the time, potatoes had not yet reached North America, and green beans were a later addition to American cuisine. Instead, the main fare likely included smaller game birds, such as geese or ducks, rather than the large turkeys we associate with Thanksgiving today.
Research by food historian Kathleen Wall, from the Plimoth Patuxet museum, sheds light on the real dishes that may have graced the table. According to accounts from that period, game birds, corn to make bread or porridge, and venison were staples. Documents from leaders such as Edward Winslow describe a three-day feast that involved hunting and sharing food, including five deer gifted by the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, along with a wide variety of birds.
The cooking methods of the time were also different. Options likely included boiling and then roasting birds to enhance flavors, with a stuffing made from chestnuts rather than the bread stuffing we see today. Additionally, seafood, such as eels and shellfish, might have supplemented the menu.
Pumpkin was indeed a part of the Wampanoag diet, though it would not have been served as pie, which is a more modern creation. Thanksgiving was not an annual celebration immediately following the first feast; it did not become a widespread holiday until the 19th century, when President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863.
This historical perspective not only paints a vivid picture of the early Thanksgiving but also emphasizes the evolution of cultural traditions over time, encouraging a deeper understanding of the holiday’s roots.
In summary, the first Thanksgiving was a complex blend of cultural foods and communal celebration that laid the groundwork for the cherished holiday we observe today. While many of the dishes we enjoy have changed substantially, the spirit of gratitude and gathering remains at the heart of the celebration.