HISTORY
The 1621 harvest gathering often linked to Thanksgiving occurred near this early English colony.
Plymouth
This hardy grain, brown by early colonists, still appears today in Thanksgiving breads and stews.
Barley
This autumn event involves launching pumpkins through the air using homemade catapults or compressed-air devices.
In this classic animated special, toast and popcorn stand in for a traditional meal.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A classic Thanksgiving dessert and a chart used to represent percentages.
This Indigenous nation, led by Massasoit formed an alliance with the colonists and joined the 1621 celebration.
Wampanoag
This herb blend, built around sage, thyme and marjoram, is a traditional seasoning for Thanksgiving poultry.
Poultry seasoning
A custom with German origins, many Americans begin this household tradition during Thanksgiving weekend.
Putting up Christmas tree / decorations
This 1987 comedy follows two mismatched travelers desperate to get home for Thanksgiving.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
A casual nicknames for Thanksgiving and a Jake Gyllenhaal disaster film.
Turkey Day After Tomorrow
This crop, planted using Indigenous techniques, produced the most successful harvest of 1621.
Maize (corn)
Popular in coastal colonies, this shellfish was often added to bread-based stuffing and still appears in regional versions today.
Oysters
This retail-focused event, occurring the Saturday after Thanksgiving, emphasizes supporting local businesses.
Small Business Saturday
Friends
A soft potato side dish and a famous toy with interchangeable facial features.
Mashed Potato Head
More common on the 1621 table than turkey, this meat was supplied by the Indigenous participants.
Venison
Before refined sugar was common, this dark syrup was the primary sweetener in many early American holiday dishes.
Molasses
The pre-meal ritual, encouraged by 19th century cultural leaders, emphasizes reflection and gratitude.
This long-running animated sitcom features an annual Thanksgiving tradition where one character always fails at deep frying a turkey
Simpsons
This biggest shopping day of the year and a TV drama about Texas high school football.
Black Friday Night Lights
The 19th-century editor spent decades lobbying presidents for a national Thanksgiving holiday.
Sarah Josepha Hale
This fruited meat accompaniment, made with vinegar, spices, and dried fruits, influenced early American sauces long before cranberry sauce became standard.
Mincemeat (or mincemeat relish/chutney)
This informal tradition sees college students return to hometown hangouts on Thanksgiving Eve, creating some of the busiest bar nights of the year.
Blackout Wednesday (Drinksgiving)
In this 1995 film, Al Pacino plays a blind retired Army officer whose Thanksgiving weekend is upended when a prep-school student becomes his caretaker.
Scent of a Woman
The White House ceremony that spares a bird and a phrase people use to excuse coarse language.