What Is the History of These 6 Thanksgiving Foods?

When did we start eating turkey for Thanksgiving? Find out the historical origins of common Thanksgiving foods, from turkey to pumpkin pie.

By Elizabeth Gamillo
Nov 15, 2023 3:00 PM
Family gathering around a table for thanksgiving
(Credit:Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock)

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When gathering for a Thanksgiving meal, a few staples adorn the table. From roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes, these fixings will surely be part of the feast. But ever wonder why these classic foods are commonly seen every year?

According to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, many foods enjoyed on American tables are from Mexico and South America. Here are how these foods made it to millions across the U.S. and how they are rooted in the country's early beginnings.

What Did They Eat at the First Thanksgiving?

(Credit: The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, 1914, Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, Public Domain)

Only two known sources documented the types of foods eaten at the first Thanksgiving over 400 years ago. One account from a person present at the event is from a letter by Edward Winslow, one of the founders and governor of the Plymouth colony.

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