In the early morning hours, the Wampanoag tribe began to make their way to the English settlement of Plymouth...numerous villages had perhaps been alerted to come....to a "feast".
They had indeed been invited to a Harvest Festival.....
At Plymouth, approximately 52 English pilgrims were standing strong...as over 90 Wampanoag warriors made their way to the settlement...accompanied behind by their women and children.
This whole event about to take place was more of a "public relations" thing. The English pilgrims and the Native Americans were still in transition of getting to know one another... a trust that had not completely been established.
There had been a treaty between the 2 groups made in the early Spring of 1621, and it basically was agreed upon that they would protect one another from any outside enemy attack. In other words, "I'll watch your back...and you watch mine."
Yet, still...could the Wampanoag tribe trust the English in this so called Harvest Feast? After all, the stories had been told of how the Vikings had murdered other Native Americans in years past, the broken treaties of the English with other tribes, or was this a set-up...to be engaged in warfare against these English of Plymouth?
The event was at minimal a 3 day affair, and although food is often a method in the ways of peace, getting to know one another was of equal importance.
The actual feast probably took place much earlier than when we celebrate Thanksgiving today... more than likely in late September.
This we do know: the 3 day event not only consisted of various foods prepared, but games and sporting type events as well. The English pilgrims were not daunted in the "black and white" clothing as often depicted, but had color to their clothing...without the pilgrim black hats and large belt buckles (in fact, the pilgrims at the time did not wear belts...their "breeches" were tied to their jackets).
The Wampanoags truly outnumbered the English settlers at least 2 to 1, and when the feast had concluded, everyone returned to their homes...on good terms. The Thanksgiving Feast had been deemed...a success!
MENU OF THE DAY: A HARVEST MEAL {THE FIRST THANKSGIVING}
1. The Wampanoag tribe brought 5 deer to the festive occasion...to be eaten by all!...fresh venison to be roasted over open wooden fires.
2. The pilgrims had went "fowling" (hunting for bird game), and brought to the feast ducks, geese, and possibly even swan. The hunting had proved exceptionally successful and was written their was a week's supply of game.
3. Fish....mussels, bass, clams, lobsters, and perhaps oysters...all plentiful in the New England region.
4. Vegetables... onions, beans, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, a few peas(rough year for peas), and corn...trust me...plenty of corn. The corn was often made into a type of mesh and then sweetened with molasses ( New England is famous for their production of molasses). Potatoes?? Probably not. The popularity of potatoes had not yet come to the New England area...but with the Spanish and the Irish...it was soon to be a common staple. So, in place of potatoes...probably turnips. Oh, and squash, a Native American treat, was plentiful. Reports are is was sweetened with honey and then laid on the coals of the wood fire. mmmmm!
5. Pumpkin pie...that would be a...no go. Although pumpkins were available and much liked by the English settlers, they really didn't have butter (no cattle at the time), nor did they have flour (they still relied on things like that from supplies on ships coming from England), and there is no indication they had ovens...at least not yet. Now, what the pilgrims would do is hollow out the pumpkins, fill the inside with goats milk, honey, spices, and pumpkin stuff (lol), and put that on the coals of a wooden fire as well...it came out almost like a custard. mmmmmm!
6. Fruits...enter the Wampanoag tribe! These Native Americans were well known...and still are today...for their fruits. They would start off the year with a "Strawberry Festival", and then grow blueberries, plums, gooseberries, and grapes...both red and white. Along with all this came raspberries...and then...the great and grand finale...cranberries! Even today, cranberries are sought after from this New England region, and the Wampanoag tribe have a major role in its product. Chestnuts and walnuts also were a part of the food supply.
7. Drinks...beer, an English favorite...along with some wine. And what did the children drink?....beer as well. It was safe and contamination was minimal. Of course, a fresh drink of water from a nearby stream...might be tasty as well.
OK...the Big Question...Was their turkey? Hmmm...the historical documents available do not really mention turkey...although wild turkey had to be flying around nearby...don't you think? One will never know.......
They had indeed been invited to a Harvest Festival.....
At Plymouth, approximately 52 English pilgrims were standing strong...as over 90 Wampanoag warriors made their way to the settlement...accompanied behind by their women and children.
This whole event about to take place was more of a "public relations" thing. The English pilgrims and the Native Americans were still in transition of getting to know one another... a trust that had not completely been established.
There had been a treaty between the 2 groups made in the early Spring of 1621, and it basically was agreed upon that they would protect one another from any outside enemy attack. In other words, "I'll watch your back...and you watch mine."
Yet, still...could the Wampanoag tribe trust the English in this so called Harvest Feast? After all, the stories had been told of how the Vikings had murdered other Native Americans in years past, the broken treaties of the English with other tribes, or was this a set-up...to be engaged in warfare against these English of Plymouth?
The event was at minimal a 3 day affair, and although food is often a method in the ways of peace, getting to know one another was of equal importance.
The actual feast probably took place much earlier than when we celebrate Thanksgiving today... more than likely in late September.
This we do know: the 3 day event not only consisted of various foods prepared, but games and sporting type events as well. The English pilgrims were not daunted in the "black and white" clothing as often depicted, but had color to their clothing...without the pilgrim black hats and large belt buckles (in fact, the pilgrims at the time did not wear belts...their "breeches" were tied to their jackets).
The Wampanoags truly outnumbered the English settlers at least 2 to 1, and when the feast had concluded, everyone returned to their homes...on good terms. The Thanksgiving Feast had been deemed...a success!
MENU OF THE DAY: A HARVEST MEAL {THE FIRST THANKSGIVING}
1. The Wampanoag tribe brought 5 deer to the festive occasion...to be eaten by all!...fresh venison to be roasted over open wooden fires.
2. The pilgrims had went "fowling" (hunting for bird game), and brought to the feast ducks, geese, and possibly even swan. The hunting had proved exceptionally successful and was written their was a week's supply of game.
3. Fish....mussels, bass, clams, lobsters, and perhaps oysters...all plentiful in the New England region.
4. Vegetables... onions, beans, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, a few peas(rough year for peas), and corn...trust me...plenty of corn. The corn was often made into a type of mesh and then sweetened with molasses ( New England is famous for their production of molasses). Potatoes?? Probably not. The popularity of potatoes had not yet come to the New England area...but with the Spanish and the Irish...it was soon to be a common staple. So, in place of potatoes...probably turnips. Oh, and squash, a Native American treat, was plentiful. Reports are is was sweetened with honey and then laid on the coals of the wood fire. mmmmm!
5. Pumpkin pie...that would be a...no go. Although pumpkins were available and much liked by the English settlers, they really didn't have butter (no cattle at the time), nor did they have flour (they still relied on things like that from supplies on ships coming from England), and there is no indication they had ovens...at least not yet. Now, what the pilgrims would do is hollow out the pumpkins, fill the inside with goats milk, honey, spices, and pumpkin stuff (lol), and put that on the coals of a wooden fire as well...it came out almost like a custard. mmmmmm!
6. Fruits...enter the Wampanoag tribe! These Native Americans were well known...and still are today...for their fruits. They would start off the year with a "Strawberry Festival", and then grow blueberries, plums, gooseberries, and grapes...both red and white. Along with all this came raspberries...and then...the great and grand finale...cranberries! Even today, cranberries are sought after from this New England region, and the Wampanoag tribe have a major role in its product. Chestnuts and walnuts also were a part of the food supply.
7. Drinks...beer, an English favorite...along with some wine. And what did the children drink?....beer as well. It was safe and contamination was minimal. Of course, a fresh drink of water from a nearby stream...might be tasty as well.
OK...the Big Question...Was their turkey? Hmmm...the historical documents available do not really mention turkey...although wild turkey had to be flying around nearby...don't you think? One will never know.......
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