Where does Thanksgiving really come from? Especially the food? The modern meal we eat is nothing like the original meal and the reasons for the Thanksgiving holiday (including the observed day) are Lost. History is always more complex and interesting than we think. In this episode we attempt to reconstruct the Plymouth dinner and the winding path to our own holiday meal.
Sources and Notes
BRADFORDS HISTORY OF PLIMOTH PLANTATION (faculty.gordon.edu)
Recipes from a 17th century kitchen by Donald R Daly (fortedwards.org)
"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 fruits 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 amongst 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" Letter from Edward Winslow (history.com)
"...Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being... That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks..." Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 (mountvernon.org)
The Real Story of The First Thanksgiving (epicurious.com)
"But Roosevelt was president for a long time, long enough for another five-Thursday November to roll around in 1939. Once again, some business leaders asked if the date for the holiday could be a week earlier to give people more time to shop for Christmas." Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving On The 4th Thursday Of November (npr.org)
"Amidst a raging Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” on October 3, 1863, 74 years to the day after President George Washington issued his first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation...The concept for a national Thanksgiving celebrated annually came from Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of the Godey's Lady's Book magazine. Hale pointed out in a letter to Lincoln only a week before the proclamation was made official that the public had been manifesting increasing interest in one national holiday." How President Lincoln Created Thanksgiving (forbes.com)
Renaissance (history.com)
A Call for Repentance (67owls.com)
The Origins of the Mysterious Green Bean Casserole (history.com)
A Colonial Thanksgiving Menu Inspired By the Foods the Pilgrims Ate (marthastewart.com)
Music Courtesy of freemusicarchive.org
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