The first Thanksgiving in 1621, was very different from the way we celebrate. So what did they eat?
We have two first hand sources to provide information and insight.
According to William Bradford’s journal they had Indian corn, an abundance of fish and fowl, including many turkey’s and an addition of venison.
Edward Winslow’s desciption stated, “after the harvest (of Indian corn, their planting of peas were not worth gathering and their barley harvest of barley was “indifferent”), Bradford sent out four men fowling “so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours …” The time was one of recreation, including the shooting of arms, and many Natives joined them, including Massasoit and 90 of his men, who stayed three days. They killed five deer which they presented to Bradford, Standish and others in Plymouth. Winslow concluded his description by telling his readers that “we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”
That first Thanksgiving meal is also believed to contain waterfowl, venison, ham, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, pumpkin, and squash.