Pilgrims who first came to America were concerned about, “Will i have enough food to eat??”
They initially believed that what a person ate impacted their health and character.
The colonists’ diffusion to “new food realities” shaped American culinary traditions.
The first Thanksgiving was a 3 day fest celebrating a group of self-exiled English pilgrimsand the Wampanoag tribe as the Europeans settled into their new home at Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
Mayflower- 102 passengers in 1620. Ten week voyage.
Many people journeying to north America from England were fleeing due to religious reasons. They believed the church was corrupt and could not be reformed. They wanted to form a new religious utopia— the “New World.”
They shared a collective disdain for the Church of England, an institution they believed had distorted the beauty and the simplicity of God’s word…”
English on the Mayflower had a turbulent trip overseas, suffering from seasickness and an infectious illness that spread throughout the ship.
Those on the Mayflower most likely chose food out of budget, durability, and storage.
Most common food eaten at sea were “ship biscuits”
could last for over a year. However, it could easily be infested by insects.
Salted meat (beef and pork) and dried legumes/beans
Since the trip was long, voyagers didn't have access to fresh fruit and vegetables.
fresh drinking water and beer was a main concern of the ship’s crew.
Those on the Mayflower most likely brought spices, medicines and ingredients (flour, cheese, oats..)
The colonists arrived at Cape Cod and were already familiar with other Europeans' stories of Native Americans. They sent out a search party to explore the area and were delighted to discover fresh drinking water.
Found an abandoned area that was seventy miles inland. This area was originally called Patuxet, but the Europeans called it “Plimouth.”