Electronic Highways
Thanksgiving traditions unraveled
It is taught from a young age to American school children that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in the fall of 1621 to rejoice in the bounty of the harvest and honor the cooperation between the colonial English settlers and the Native Americans. While this may be accepted lore, how much of it is actually fact?
According to the History Channel’s History of Thanksgiving Web site, it is not too far off. However, some aspects of the holiday legend that may need some clarification and many more Thanksgiving details are a matter of debate. For instance, the first Thanksgiving lasted three days, not one. It is uncertain whether or not the Native Americans were actually invited to the feast, and turkey may have not even been on the table.
The History Channel’s First Thanksgiving Web site is full of interesting facts that can be used to dazzle family and friends throughout the holiday, among them Mayflower Myths, Thanksgiving Fun Facts, and The First Thanksgiving (which provides more detail and trivia about the holiday).
If there was no turkey, then what was on the menu? According to the Christian Science Monitor, most of what we know was served on that first Thanksgiving is based on the writings of two of the feast’s attendants, Edward Winslow and William Bradford. Based on their account, it is believed that the Pilgrims would have dined on duck, goose, lobster, mussels, white and red grapes, plums, corn and a variety of squashes. What was missing, based on modern traditions: pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, potatoes and, of course, turkey. Further information about the first Thanksgiving menu and 17th century cooking techniques can be found on the Epicurious Web site.
Moving onto modern day, there is the annual act of the president of the United States issuing a turkey pardon each year. As with most aspects of Thanksgiving tradition, this one also is in dispute. While some believe that the tradition of pardoning a turkey dates all the way back to Abraham Lincoln, the annual ritual as we know it was started by George H.W. Bush. See Snopes for a complete history of the tradition of the presidential turkey pardon.
Also among modern day Thanksgiving traditions, NFL football is as customary as apple pie. The Pro Football Hall of Fame indicates that the tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving Day began in 1934 with the Detroit Lions. The Thanksgiving football tradition is firmly rooted in Detroit, where the Lions, along, with the Dallas Cowboys, play every year. To see the full roster of NFL games this Thanksgiving, visit the NFL’s Web site.
Not to be overlooked in the quest to unravel the mysteries of Thanksgiving is the University Libraries. Take a look at databases like America: History & Life or JSTOR for scholarly literature on Thanksgiving. Another useful resources to consider when researching scholarly works on Thanksgiving is Google Scholar.
—Linda Hasman, University Libraries
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