THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

The Pilgrims enjoyed a feast in 1621, after their first harvest, and it is this feast which people often refer to as "The First Thanksgiving". To these devoutly religious people, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting. It could have been held any time that they felt an extra day of thanks was needed. The 1621 feast has become a model that we think of for our own Thanksgiving celebration.

We can assume, for example, that the harvest feast was eaten outside based on the fact that the Colonists didn't have a building large enough to accommodate all the people who came. Native People were among the invited guests, and it's probable that roasted turkey and pumpkin were served. This is the way the feast was described in a first-hand account by a leader of the colony, Edward Winslow, as it appears in Mourt's Relation:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, Many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

From this we know that the feast went on for three days, included ninety "Indians", and food was plentiful. In addition, to the venison provided by the Indians, there was enough wild fowl to supply the village for a week. The fowl would have included ducks, geese, turkeys and even swans.

Much of the information we have about the feast, is the result of research conducted by the staff at Plimoth Plantation. From this research we know about the foods and recipes that would have been available to them, and from two first hand accounts (the second was written by William Bradford, Governor of the colony for 33 years, and can be read in Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647), we have a good idea of how the village looked, what the colonists wore, how they spoke, what animals they owned and how they lived. We even know what games they played, what their views may have been on everything from their new home to religion and politics. And with all this knowledge, we piece together what foods would have been served at the feast, how the table looked, how the setting looked, even perhaps what the conversation was like.

For anyone who wants to re-create this feast for themselves, Plimoth Plantation, offers the Thanksgiving Primer. From it, we offer the following recipe as an addition to your own feast on Thanksgiving Day.

Furmenty
(A wheat pudding on the order of an Indian Pudding)

Furmenty

Ingredients

· 1 cup cracked wheat

· 1/8 tsp. ground mace

· 1 quart milk

· 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

· 3/4 cup milk

· 1/4 cup brown sugar

· 1/2 cup heavy cream

· 2 egg yolks

· 1/2 tsp. salt

· additional brown sugar

Directions

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil and add the wheat. Lower heat to simmer, cover, and continue to cook for 1/2 hour, or until, soft. Drain off all the water and add the milk, cream, salt, mace, cinnamon and sugar. Continue to simmer, stirrng occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed(20 to 30 minutes). In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks and slowly stir 1/2 cup of the wheat mixture into the yolks. Then stir the yolk mixture into the pot, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve sprinkled with brown sugar.