The first winter for the Pilgrims was more than difficult. It was devastating. They didn’t know the land, the weather conditions or how to gather food in this new region. When spring finally arrived, they didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
They had help. The Native Americans in the area were very friendly to them and showed them some of the crops native to the Americas. Without that help, it is doubtful the Pilgrims would have made it through the next winter.
When harvest time came, a solemn event was planned. While it was solemn, it was also festive. Many of the Pilgrim’s newfound friends joined in a feast of thanksgiving. Besides the abundant food on the tables, the Pilgrims wanted to thank God for the food stored for the long, cold winter to come. They were much better prepared.
Food has often been used as a part of religious festivals, and not just for Christians. The foods chosen often have a meaning for that festival. This is true of Thanksgiving. The turkey was chosen because it was also ready for winter; full of fat which these people needed to survive. Turkeys don’t migrate, so they were there for the taking.
The rest of this is guesswork, but not just by me. There are no known records of what was served, but since they had just learned of these foods, I’m sure they made it to the table. The two things that were recorded were fowls shot by the Pilgrims and deer brought by the Native Americans.
Corn was probably served. You may not know this but corn is not native to Europe. Having it at the table showed gratitude for the new knowledge and one more necessary food in their diet. Besides helping keep the Pilgrims full longer, it provided many nutrients they needed.
You may not be able to think of a Thanksgiving dinner without pumpkin pie, but there probably weren’t any. Pumpkins probably, but the Pilgrims had no sugar. The Native Americans did teach them how to tap certain trees for the sweet sap, and that was probably used in some way or another.
Naturally, berries would be present. Grapes and other juicy fruits, as well as fruits dried for the winter were probably the dessert section. While cranberries are native to the area, they may not have been used, as the berries are rather sour and bitter without sweetening. Somehow, I can’t see maple syrup as being very good in cranberry sauce.
All of these foods were symbolic, in a way. They meant the hope of survival. Sharing it with each other and the Native Americans who helped them gave them an opportunity to show their gratitude, both to their human helpers and to Good.
When you sit down at the dinner table on Thanksgiving, look at the food before you. Think about what it would be like not to have enough food and how grateful you would feel if after such starvation, you had plenty. It is what Thanksgiving is about…being thankful.