In 1621, a celebration was held at Plymouth Plantation after a successful growing season. In the years before, the Pilgrims struggled to harvest and hunt enough food to survive in what would one day become America. If it weren’t for helpful Native Americans like Squanto and other members of the Wampanoag Tribe, these early settlers would never have figured out how to live on the land.
To give thanks for their newfound success, the Pilgrims decided to host a feast. Fifty Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans attended the first Thanksgiving dinner. While it featured many of the same dishes we eat today, there were also things on the menu that might make you lose your appetite.
“The First Thanksgiving 1621” by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1899)
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In addition to turkey, the Pilgrims and Native Americans also feasted on eagle, partridge, crane, swan, duck, and goose.
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Seafood was also on the menu in 1621. Lobster, eel, clams, and cod were all consumed.
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While you might see some decorative Indian corn on your dinner table, you probably won’t be eating it the way they did at the first Thanksgiving. Maybe think about putting out plums and grapes like they did almost 400 years ago.
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Liverwort was a popular seasoning for those who prepared food for the feast. Same with olive oil, parsnips, and leeks.
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Fowl wasn’t the only type of meat they had. Venison and seal were also gobbled up. How could they?
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While I’m sad to see that plums, grapes, and duck never really caught on as popular Thanksgiving foods, I sure am thankful eagles and seals aren’t as prevalent as they once were. Whatever you decided to dine on this Thanksgiving, don’t forget the most important part of the meal: enjoying the company of those around you.
