The Origins of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving began in 1621 in Plymouth, a small coastal settlement in what is now Massachusetts. After surviving a brutal winter, the English settlers finally harvested enough to make it through the next season. They invited the Wampanoag, the Indigenous people who had lived in this region for thousands of years and whose knowledge had helped them understand the land, the weather and the rhythms of New England.
That gathering was brief and imperfect, but it held a simple promise. People shared food, talked, played games and marked a rare moment when the land had given enough for everyone. The history that followed is layered and often painful, but the idea of pausing to be grateful remains. For many immigrant families, Thanksgiving became a new kind of canvas. You kept the table. You added flavor. You blended memory with your own story.
Here is what the original foods meant and how they still show up today.
Turkey: Wild turkeys lived in large numbers in the forests around Plymouth. They were plentiful in autumn and easy to hunt which made them a natural centerpiece. Turkey symbolized abundance and a safe entry into winter.
Today nearly 46 million turkeys are eaten in the United States each Thanksgiving. Families season and cook them in ways that feel like home which turns the bird into a shared ritual rather than a fixed rule.Venison: Venison is meat from deer. The Wampanoag hunted deer throughout the region and brought venison to the 1621 gathering. It represented generosity and the idea of sharing what the land provided. Deer meat was prized because it was lean rich in nutrients and could feed many people at once. The spirit of venison continues whenever someone brings a homemade dish to the table. It represents contribution hospitality and the idea that a meal becomes meaningful when many hands shape it.
Corn, Beans, and Squash: These three crops were known as the Three Sisters. Indigenous farmers planted them together because each plant helped the others grow. Corn provided height. Beans climbed the stalks and returned nutrients to the soil. Squash covered the ground to conserve moisture. On modern tables these ingredients become cornbread roasted squash green beans and autumn vegetable dishes. They remind us that food systems rooted in balance existed long before Thanksgiving became a holiday.
Seafood: The waters near Plymouth were full of lobster clams mussels and fish. When crops struggled these foods kept communities alive. Seafood symbolized adaptability and the importance of understanding the local environment.
Today seafood shows up as salmon shrimp or coastal recipes that bring freshness to the holiday.Pumpkin, Berries, and Nuts: Pumpkins and berries grew widely and could be dried or stored for winter. They added sweetness and energy when days became shorter and colder. Pumpkin pie carries that story into the present along with pumpkin soups curries roasted slices and desserts flavored with spices that warm the season.
Modern Traditions That Add Color
The holiday grew far beyond its origins.
Millions of families travel creating the busiest week of the year for American roads and airports.
The Macy’s Parade draws huge crowds and uses hundreds of handlers to guide its famous balloons.
The White House hosts a lighthearted turkey pardon which has become a national signal that the holiday season has begun.
Cranberry growers harvest nearly 80 million pounds of berries for the season. Sweet potato production reaches more than 2 billion pounds.
And These Stories Still Matter…
Thanksgiving began as a harvest gathering shaped by the land and by the Wampanoag whose generosity made the first meal possible. The history that followed is layered but the heart of the holiday remains the same. A table a moment of pause and a reminder that food carries memory and meaning. Our own Thanksgiving tables keep evolving. Some dishes stay forever. Others change with each generation. What matters is the act of gathering and remembering that every ingredient has a story.
Happy Thanksgiving from 🗝️ The Weekly Chai. May your table be warm your stories be good and your gratitude feel real.
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