Many of us think of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie at the mentioning of Thanksgiving. However, many of these items were not available in 1621 when New Englanders landed in Plymouth Bay and shared a feast with the neighboring Native Americans.

    While it is possible that turkey was eaten at the first Thanksgiving, historians argue that there were many other types of meat served, including venison, fish, shellfish, geese, duck, and swan. The New Englanders used herbs and onions to stuff fish and fowl, and may also have used oats. Mashed potatoes were probably not prepared for the feast, as there were few Europeans that were familiar with the root at the time, and no recipes including white potatoes had been written yet. In addition to meat and possibly stuffing, the New Englanders, today known as Pilgrims, may also have eaten cranberries. However, these would be dried, like the rest of the harvest of fruit, rather than cooked with sugar into a sauce in today’s manner. While the Pilgrims may have eaten pumpkin, there is no evidence showing that pumpkin pie was made for the fall celebration. Butter and wheat flour (the main ingredients in pie crust) and ovens were unavailable. The first recorded recipe for pumpkin pie was written after 1621, and it called for the pumpkin to be sliced into chunks before being baked into the pie rather than pureed. The Wampanoag and the New Englanders feasted on corn, nuts, and beans in addition to meat, dried fruit, herbs, and onions.

    Though the dishes enjoyed during the first Thanksgiving meal are different from the dishes many Americans enjoy today, the ideas behind the holiday remains constant. Like the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims, many people celebrate Thanksgiving in order to be closer to family and friends and share the bounty.

 

By Mei Manzo

11-11-13