From my November 21, 2015 News Journal column.
As school children we learned about the first Thanksgiving celebration held in New England (in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts) in November 1621. Thanksgiving-themed scholastic lessons have evolved over the years, so depending upon one’s age, ideas about the first Thanksgiving celebration and accompanying meals vary drastically.
Many of us envision black-and-white-clad Pilgrims (Plymouth colonists) with tall hats and large belt buckles eating turkeys and mashed potatoes with their Native American neighbors. However, even though many grade-schoolers still participate in plays that depict such scenes, history tells us that the first Thanksgiving was a bit different.
As newcomers to a land that was already inhabited by various Native American tribes, the Plymouth colonists formed an alliance with the local Wampanoag tribe. The colonists and the Wampanoag protected each other, and the Wampanoag helped the colonists grow and find food. After a successful 1621 farming season, the colonists held a days-long festival to give thanks and celebrate, and they invited their Wampanoag friends.
Surrounded by resource-rich forests and bodies of water, the colonists and the Wampanoag hunted and fished for the much of the festival’s food.
Although it is possible the first Thanksgiving feast included turkey (since wild turkeys were native to New England), turkey, specifically, is not mentioned in the historical record. However, since the colony was situated near Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound, and various other ponds, rivers, and bays, wild ducks, geese, swans, and other fowl were likely on the menu.
Similarly, fish and shellfish were abundant near Plymouth, so the celebratory festival likely included striped bass, bluefish, mussels, oysters, lobsters, and other seafood native to the region.
Deer and other game animals were abundant in the region, as well. The only historical account of the first Thanksgiving festival shows that the Wampanoag provided five deer for the feast, and it’s likely that rabbit, squirrel, partridges, and other native animals were included on the menu.
While many Americans believe the first Thanksgiving was merely a dinner party, it was actually much more. Historical records indicate that the harvest celebration festival also included hunting, target shooting, dancing, singing, and playing games.
Most modern Thanksgiving celebrations have lost sight of the first Thanksgiving, but hunters, anglers, farmers, and gardeners can return Thanksgiving to its roots. Rather than serving boring, caged-raised, disproportionate, store-bought turkeys every Thanksgiving, those who harvest the land’s resources should serve wild game and fish and home-grown vegetables instead. Since there is a nationwide shortage of turkeys, dare to be different this year: Serve grilled venison, roasted Canada goose, or stewed rabbit at your Thanksgiving feast.
Likewise, rather than watching football all day, those focused on true Thanksgiving traditions should add hunting to their agendas. Plenty of hunting opportunities are available between now and Thanksgiving, and some hunting seasons include Thanksgiving Day.