This week, on the fourth Thursday of November, it’s Thanksgiving, one of the biggest holidays in the American calendar. The Thanksgiving feast, is based on the harvest meal organised by the Pilgrims, who were some of the first to arrive in America in 1621. Nowadays, the day is marked with family, American football and lots and lots of FOOD!
Turkey
One of the most important parts of a Thanksgiving feast is the turkey. There is some confusion as to whether there was actually turkey at the first Thanksgiving but, as turkey is native to North America and, practically speaking, it’s a big bird and therefore can feed a large family, eating turkey remains a tradition!
The president of the United States even carries out a ceremony at the White House every year at which he is presented with a live domestic turkey, who is then ‘pardoned.’ This turkey will then not be eaten at Thanksgiving dinner.
Side Dishes
Thanksgiving is known to be a day of elasticated waists! At most tables it’s very common to see copious numbers of side dishes to accompany the enormous turkey. Cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes (often served with marshmallows!), mac & cheese, corn, green beans and bread are typically served.
Scrumptious sweet potatoes and marshmallow. No marshmallows with the sweet potatoes in your Roasty Toasties!
Pumpkin pie
Whilst this was also not included at the first Thanksgiving, as they wouldn’t have had the flour and butter to make pie crust, both Pilgrims and natives would have enjoyed eating pumpkins and adding milk, honey and spices and then roasting the mixture. This would have made a delicious sweet treat.
It all sounds very tasty to us! We wish our American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving for this Thursday and we hope they enjoy their time with their friend, families and Munchachos.
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