Something You Should Know Thanksgiving Myths, Foods & Forgotten Traditions- Bonus Holiday Episode
Nov 25, 2025
Leslie Landrigan, a writer and historian specializing in New England history, reveals intriguing insights into Thanksgiving traditions. Discover what was truly served at the first Thanksgiving feast, which included deer and shellfish rather than turkey. Leslie also explores the origins of the quirky presidential turkey pardon and explains the surprising backstory of 'Jingle Bells' as a Thanksgiving song. Dive into the forgotten foods and cultural significance of early celebrations that shaped today's holiday.
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Origins Of The Turkey Pardon
- The presidential turkey pardon evolved from 19th-century turkey presentations to a formal pardon starting with George H.W. Bush in 1989.
- The ritual blends real history, humor, and White House publicity around Thanksgiving.
What The First Feast Likely Included
- The 1621 feast largely featured local staples: deer, wildfowl, shellfish, corn and pumpkin rather than modern Thanksgiving staples.
- The meal was typical food for the region and season, possibly dressed up for the occasion.
Pumpkin: New England's Staple
- Pumpkin was central to New England diets and extremely common at early autumn meals.
- Colonists called New England the "pumpkin dominion" and even had early folk songs about overeating pumpkin.
