Researchers acknowledge that the first Thanksgiving was in the fall of 1621. The people who celebrated this were the Plymouth coloniss and the Wampanoag Indians.  This meal is proof that the colonists and the Native Americans could get along.  Celebrating harvest festivals for good crops is nothing new.

Native Americans have organized harvest festivals along with ceremonial dances for many centuries before the colonists came from England. Berkeley Plantation, it is said, that near the Charles River, a group of colonists, led by John Woodleif got down on his knees and said a prayer of Thanksgiving. This occured in December 1961 for their safety in sailing the Atlantic.

Thanksgiving feasts are still celebrated all over America with family and friends.

Historians aren’t positive what was served at that first Thanksgiving, but are fairly sure wild fowl and venison were served.

The pilgrims were not as civilized as much as us today. They did not eat with forks; fingers, spoons and knives were used. They had big cloth napkins in which to wipe their fingers.

They used salt and pepper.  The salt would be on the table for extra seasoning.  They used pepper to cook, but it was not served at the table.

Around this time in history, the best food was given to the best person in ranking them.

The interesting thing was that they did not have the inclination to taste test everything on the table. Instead, each colonists ate what was near them.

Pilgrims did not have courses like they have today. Everything was put on the table together.

I hope this gives you some idea why Thanksgiving was celebrated and what they ate.