How the Thanksgiving Food Favorites Won Their Place at the Table

Thanksgiving, celebrated annually in the United States, is a time-honored tradition marked by a feast that brings together family and friends. It is in essence a harvest festival, to give thanks for the successful harvest, and similar traditions occur around the world at various times of the year. Now it is a time of general gratefulness for blessings received throughout the year.

The dishes that grace the Thanksgiving table have evolved over centuries, each with its own unique history. Perhaps you will be digging into some of these iconic Thanksgiving dishes. So here’s how they became the holiday staples.

The Essential Roast Turkey

While it’s commonly believed that turkey was the centerpiece of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, historical records suggest otherwise. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag likely consumed venison, fowl, and seafood during their three-day feast, explains Sarah Karnasiewicz on Real Simple.

The prominence of turkey in Thanksgiving celebrations grew in the 19th century, partly due to its availability and size, which made it suitable for feeding large gatherings. Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor, played a significant role in popularizing turkey as the main dish for Thanksgiving through her advocacy and publications. She famously campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a public holiday, and eventually won her case with Abraham Lincoln establishing the holiday at the national level in 1863.