The Surprising Menu of the First Thanksgiving

What Was Really on the Table?

Thanksgiving. It’s the day we pile our plates with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, only to regret eating that second slice of pie.

But did you know the “traditional” Thanksgiving menu we all know and love is nothing like what the Pilgrims and Wampanoag ate in 1621?

If you’ve ever wondered what the first Thanksgiving feast actually looked like, you’re in for a treat (and, spoiler: there’s no pumpkin pie).

1. Main Course: Wildfowl, Not Turkey

Wild turkeys roamed the forests around Plymouth, but oddly enough, there’s no record of turkey on the table that day. The Pilgrims and Wampanoag did enjoy plenty of wildfowl, though — likely ducks or geese.

How can we be so sure?

Many of the colonists kept detailed records at the time. Here’s an excerpt from colonist Edward Winslow describing the preparation for the feast.

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice…