A reconstructed 17th-century English colonial home at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, similar to the dwellings inhabited by the Pilgrims during the time of the 1621 First Thanksgiving.
The First Thanksgiving: What Really Happened
When the phrase first Thanksgiving pops up, most of us picture tidy tables, shiny buckles, and pumpkins that look suspiciously like they came from a supermarket display. In reality, the 1621 event in Plymouth was much messier, louder, and far more human — which honestly makes it better.
Let’s rewind.
By fall 1621, the English colonists of Plymouth had just survived a brutal winter that claimed nearly half their people. Thanks to the diplomacy and agricultural knowledge of the Wampanoag Nation, particularly Tisquantum (Squanto) and tribal leader Ousamequin (Massasoit), the remaining colonists finally managed a successful harvest.
What followed was a three-day gathering that historians widely agree was not a “Thanksgiving” in the way the colonists used the term, but rather a harvest celebration that included diplomacy, feasting, games, and a whole lot of venison.
Who Was Actually There?
A bronze statue representing an early Plymouth Colony leader, often associated with the stories and accounts that shaped our understanding of the 1621 First Thanksgiving.
Surprisingly, we have a fairly solid list:
About 50 English settlers (all men, women, and children who survived the harsh first year) Around 90 Wampanoag men, led by Ousamequin Key historical figures: William Bradford, governor Edward Winslow, chronicler of the event Tisquantum (Squanto), interpreter and intermediary Ousamequin (Massasoit), Wampanoag sachem
No tall hats. No cranberry sauce. No Pinterest-worthy tablescapes.
What Did They Actually Eat?
You may want to sit down — this lineup is a long way from today’s menu.
Based on accounts by Edward Winslow and William Bradford, the likely dishes included:
Venison — courtesy of the Wampanoag hunters Wild fowl — ducks, geese, and maybe turkey Maize (corn) in porridge or bread Shellfish — mussels and clams Nuts, squash, and beans No pie — they had no butter or ovens No potatoes — not yet part of colonial foodways
If anything, this spread looked more like a rustic New England seafood cookout than the butter-laden feast we hold today.
Why This Event Still Matters
The power of the first Thanksgiving is not in its menu or its mythology. It lies in something else — a rare moment of cooperation during a period marked by fear, hardship, and mistrust.
The world these groups lived in was unstable, dangerous, and uncertain. Their cultures were different. Their histories were different. Their worldviews were different. And yet, for those three days, they managed something we still struggle with: a shared table.
The lesson isn’t that everything was perfect. It wasn’t. Tensions existed. Conflicts would come. The future was anything but peaceful.
But gratitude — real gratitude — is not about pretending everything is fine. It’s about recognizing our interdependence even when the world feels fragmented.
Today, when divisions seem louder than unity, that small historical moment can nudge us toward an old idea that’s worth dusting off:
A nation grounded in gratitude stands a better chance at weathering storms than one consumed by resentment.
The first Thanksgiving is a reminder that the American story has always been a mix of struggle and cooperation, hardship and hope, conflict and connection. And we get to decide which threads we strengthen.
If the first Thanksgiving offered anything, it was a chance to pause and recognize what sustains us. So this week, consider reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, thanking someone who helped you this year, or simply sharing a meal — even a small one — with someone who could use it.
Gratitude isn’t old-fashioned. It’s a superpower.
External References:
First Thanksgiving https://Thanksgiving for Kids NPS.gov First Thanksgiving
#ThanksgivingHistory #AmericanHistory #Wampanoag #PlymouthColony #Gratitude #Community #HarvestTraditions #HistoryNerd #FamilyStories
You must be logged in to post a comment.