Cranberries may have been incorporated into Wampanoag dishes to add tartness, but it would be another 50 years before someone first wrote about cooking them with sugar to make a "sauce to eat with...meat." — the now-ubiquitous cranberry sauce. Also, since there was probably no refined sugar in the colonies in 1621 (it would have been prohibitively expensive), the point was moot. The colonists and indigenous people ate pumpkins and squash frequently in the 1600s, so gourds were probably served at the first Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes but the First Thanksgiving likely included wildfowl, corn, porridge and venison. After all, you could be eating a heaping plateful of two-day-old potage with a side of eel, instead. So I decide to investigate what happened on the First Thanksgiving. Nearly all of what historians have learned about the first Thanksgiving comes from a single eyewitness report: a letter written in December 1621 … The birds were probably stuffed with onions and nuts instead of the bread cubes and sausage more familiar to us today, then boiled or roasted. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims, who arranged the feast as a gesture of thanks for a bountiful harvest, following a brutal winter that claimed many lives. The first Thanksgiving was a somber, religious event False. The birds were probably stuffed with onions and nuts instead of the bread cubes and sausage more familiar to us today, then boiled or roasted. 2 months ago. They describe a feast of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge. No flour, no sugar — that's right, there was nary a pie. Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, said the first Thanksgiving wasn't the "Normal Rockwell" portraits of native people sitting cheerfully on … First and foremost, there would be wildfowl — most likely duck or geese, but potentially carrier pigeons or swans. The results were surprising (no turkey?! No flour, no sugar—that's right, there was nary a pie. Only two sources contain eyewitness accounts of what has become known as the "First Thanksgiving." The difference between the first Thanksgiving back then and Thanksgiving now is that back then, it was a means to give thanks for a successful harvest. There are only two sources that exist today which specifically reference what was eaten at the first Thanksgiving in 1621. You can replicate the first Thanksgiving by making the Seethed Mussels with Parsley and Vinegar, Stewed Turkey with Herbs and Onions, Stewed Pumpkins, and Sweet Pudding of Indian Corn, … Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Abraham Lincoln was the first to bring back Thanksgiving in 1863, when a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale convinced him that a nationally celebrated Thanksgiving holiday would unite the country in the aftermath of the Civil War. The colonists didn’t have potatoes, nor did they have butter or flour necessary for making pies. There are many delicious ways to serve pumpkin. Well, pumpkins were probably present, just most likely stewed with vinegar and currants. (Parenthetically, I’ll note that Thanksgiving was originally a one-off. These two sources contain all we know firsthand about the first Thanksgiving food. ), illuminating, and just plain curious. The meal celebrated the autumn harvest and is believed to have included the meat of geese, turkey, ducks and the deer, which were brought as a gift to the English settlers by the people of the Wampanoag tribe. The results were surprising (no turkey?! Neither account mentions whether corn was roasted, popped, or served at all. Was Popcorn Served at the 'First Thanksgiving'? They describe a feast of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge. These tender-crisp Brussels sprouts come together in one big, easy batch in the oven along with bacon (yum), onion, garlic, and maple syrup. Abraham Lincoln was the first to bring back Thanksgiving in 1863, when a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale convinced him that a nationally celebrated Thanksgiving holiday would unite the country in the aftermath of the Civil War. It turns out that the desserts on the big day were more likely sweetened by something else entirely: Dried grapes and raisins! Which modern Thanksgiving dish are you most thankful for? While modern Thanksgiving always lands on the fourth Thursday in November, the original went down sometime earlier in autumn, closer to harvest time. Native crops such as peas, beans, squash, and the aforementioned flint corn would have likely made an appearance on the Thanksgiving table alongside vegetables brought over from England, such as cabbage and carrots. (If you want to learn more about indigenous American cooking, check out our interview with a Sioux chef.). Many of the foods we associate with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner were not yet available for "The First Thanksgiving". (Bettmann / Corbis) First and foremost, there would be wildfowl—most likely duck or geese, but potentially carrier pigeons or swans. Related: The First Recorded UFO Sighting In The US Was Nearly 400 Years Ago. From then on Thanksgiving was celebrated annually, typically on the last Thursday in November, but the date wasn't made official until decreed by Congress in 1941.). The forest provided chestnuts and walnuts, and crops provided squash, carrots, and peas for sides. A beloved family recipe passed down for as long as the recipe's developer, Cory Baldwin, can remember, Angel Corn is the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish. Visit this … These two sources contain all we know firsthand about the first Thanksgiving food. Best Was Turkey Served At The First Thanksgiving from Original Food Items Served In The First Thanksgiving.Source Image: www.hexapolis.com.Visit this site for details: www.hexapolis.com Do not starve on your own and save out for a huge lunch or dinner throughout Thanksgiving, it will only end with overindulging and a sore belly. Source Image: www.scholastic.com. It's creamy, herby, corn-y, just a bit sweet, and baked to golden-brown perfection in the oven till it's slightly firm to the touch. This first celebration probably took place several weeks earlier in the year than it does today; the exact date is unknown but some estimates place it in late September or early October. The feast purportedly celebrated the colonists’ first successful harvest in the New World. Likewise, walnuts, chestnuts, and beechnuts were abundant, as were sunchokes. In fact, just like what you learned in kindergarten, there is some evidence that the Native Americans did teach the colonists how to plant beans, squash, and other local crops. Cranberries might have been served but only for color or tartness, instead of as a sweet sauce. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. It is likely that corn, pumpkins, and garden produce also figured in to the menu. This lemony brined turkey has everything you love about the traditional version—crispy-golden skin and juicy, tender meat—with a little something extra: multiple kicks of lemon (for the brine and roasting), fresh ginger, and a hint of honey. It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. Well, pumpkins were probably present, just most likely stewed with vinegar and currants. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. So leading up to November, I thought I'd give you something to chew on besides what's on your table. Pumpkin can also be … In a letter to a friend back in England, Edward Winslow wrote that the feast included fowl, deer, and “the fruit of our labors,” referring to what they had worked hard to grow all year. Actually, the first feast in 1621 wasn’t really one of giving thanks, but rather a normal harvest holiday; it wasn’t until 1623 that the moral tone of Thanksgiving began to take shape. This Instant Pot version just so happens to be one of the creamiest and most flavorful recipes out there—and it couldn't be any easier (you don't even have to drain the pot). Thanksgiving as we know it took many years to develop, evolving from a very occasional celebration into a noted event in 1863 with President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving … Thus, the real first American Thanksgiving was held a year before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and two years before the fabled New England feast. First, let's set the scene: The modern Thanksgiving holiday is based off a festival shared by the pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native American tribe at Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, in 1621. No apple, no pecan, no pumpkin at the first Thanksgiving table. What Food Was *Actually* Served at the First Thanksgiving. The pilgrims hadn’t even built their first oven by the time of the first Thanksgiving. Also, since there was probably no refined sugar in the colonies in 1621 (it would have been prohibitively expensive), the point was moot. It's almost religion that we have turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce. “Thanksgiving” was a three day feast held in the autumn of 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag to celebrate the colony's survival, brotherhood with the natives, and their first fruitful harvest. Instead, venison headlined the meal, although there was a healthy selection of seafood, fowl, and fish. Today, we celebrate the joy in simply being thankful what whatever we have. The “traditional” Thanksgiving meal of turkey and “all the trimmings” is a modern-day evolution from a very different buffet the guests at the first gratitude celebration enjoyed in 1621. "It’s usually served as a topping for toast, biscuits, scones, and other baked goods." But here's some hard truth: almost NONE of that was on the table at the first thanksgiving in 1621. The rest of the menu we can only piece together, based upon what was available, what both groups ate in times of celebration, and what the Native Americans would have (literally) brought to the table. Seafood is a rare sight on a modern Thanksgiving table, but the colonists most likely had fish, eel, and shellfish, such as lobster and mussels, at their feast. Though corn is one of the most iconic Thanksgiving foods, it's unlikely that settlers had corn on the cob this time of year -- the only corn present at the first Thanksgiving was dried. Those pumpkin-y flavors really shine through thanks to the addition of pumpkin purée in the cake better (it also adds moisture), plus all the spices you'd expect, like cinnamon, ginger, and clove. Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without a green side or two, right? Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes but the First Thanksgiving likely included wildfowl, corn, porridge and venison. Does it include baking a pumpkin, pecan, or apple pie? No apple, no pecan, no pumpkin at the first Thanksgiving table. The rest of the menu we can only piece together, based upon what was available, what both groups ate in times of celebration, and what the Native Americans would have (literally) brought to the table. It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. In 1621, two groups from different cultures (the Pilgrim settlers and the local Wampanoag tribe) -- who both already had traditions of an autumn feast of thanksgiving -- chose to share a meal and celebrate together. There was no sweet potato casserole, with mini marshmallows or without, since tuberous roots had not yet been introduced from the Caribbean. While modern Thanksgiving always lands on the fourth Thursday in November, the original went down sometime earlier in autumn, closer to harvest time. It’s possible, but unlikely, that there was turkey at the first Thanksgiving. In this case, you’d be eating exactly what the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians prepared for the very first Thanksgiving! There are only two surviving documents that reference the original Thanksgiving harvest meal. ), illuminating, and just plain curious. No apple, no pecan, no pumpkin at the first Thanksgiving table. Historians say the feast at Berkeley Hundred may have included bacon, peas, cornmeal cakes, and cinnamon water. The feast purportedly celebrated the colonists' first successful harvest in the New World. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour. However, they didn’t have butter, sugar, and other sweet ingredients to turn the pumpkins into dessert—which means there was no pie. 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