Why Is Pumpkin Pie A Thanksgiving Tradition?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The colonists and indigenous people ate pumpkins and squash frequently in the 1600s, so gourds were probably served at the first Thanksgiving. ... Since pumpkin was already associated with Thanksgiving dinner, it makes sense that the colonists began serving the pie at the big meal once the recipe was popularized .

Why do we eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving?

The pumpkin is a symbol of harvest time , and pumpkin pie is generally eaten during the fall and early winter. In the United States and Canada, it is usually prepared for Thanksgiving, and other occasions when pumpkin is in season.

When did pumpkin pie became a Thanksgiving staple?

By the early 18th century , giving thanks for a bountiful autumn harvest with an annual celebratory feast, as the Pilgrims did, had become an important regional holiday in colonial New England and pumpkin pie had earned its iconic place at the table.

Was pumpkin pie served at the first Thanksgiving?

1621 – Early American settlers of the Plymouth Colony in southern New England (1620-1692), may have made pumpkin pies, of sorts, without crusts. ... This led to serving pumpkin pie at the first Thanksgiving in America about 50 years later.

What is the most eaten pie on Thanksgiving?

To our surprise, and plenty of people on the internet, the most popular pie for Thanksgiving wasn’t apple, not even pumpkin or sweet potato pie. According to the data collected by Instagram, the top most popular pie for Thanksgiving in the United States is cranberry pie .

What are the 2 most popular pies for Thanksgiving?

Pumpkin , the pie that’s all but synonymous with Thanksgiving, was the overall winner. But, perhaps more surprisingly, the survey found that the results were very split by region. While pumpkin pie dominated the western, central, and midwestern United States, apple pie and pecan pie also made a very strong showing.

What does pumpkin pie symbolize?

Pumpkin pie is food, so it’s literally the basis of life. And, on a symbolic level, pumpkin pie represents the unity of family and friends–in other words, social life. At Thanksgiving, the pumpkin completes its ceremonial journey.

What New England town once Cancelled Thanksgiving for lack of pumpkin pie?

By the early 18th century pumpkin pie had earned a place at the table, as Thanksgiving became an important New England regional holiday. In 1705 the Connecticut town of Colchester famously postponed its Thanksgiving for a week because there wasn’t enough molasses available to make pumpkin pie.

Why is pumpkin pie so popular?

It’s true that pumpkin-flavor is everywhere, but that’s because IT’S DELICIOUS . ... The pie itself stands on its own as a glowing beacon of the perfect combination of flavor and texture. It is so imitated because it is so loved.

Is pumpkin pie an American thing?

However, it was their pumpkin pie that, over the following centuries, went on to become an edible icon. Pie plates, T.W. Root’s Hardware Catalogue, 1890. Pumpkin is native to North America ; it was brought to Europe as part of the “Columbian Exchange”.

Did the Pilgrims eat a lot of pie?

The Pilgrims’ autumn harvest of 1621 was plentiful. ... There was no pumpkin pie —they didn’t have a baking oven in Plimoth Plantation—but there might have been pumpkin served other ways, since both the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag ate pumpkin and other indigenous squashes.

What 3 foods were eaten at the first Thanksgiving?

There are only two surviving documents that reference the original Thanksgiving harvest meal. They describe a feast of freshly killed deer , assorted wildfowl, a bounty of cod and bass, and flint, a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

Did the Pilgrims eat with the natives?

You can see throughout their journals that they were always nervous and, unfortunately, when they were nervous they were very aggressive. So the Pilgrims didn’t invite the Wampanoags to sit down and eat turkey and drink some beer? ... People did eat together [but not in what is portrayed as “the first Thanksgiving].

What are the top 5 pies for Thanksgiving?

  • Apple – 20%
  • Strawberry – 19%
  • Pumpkin – 16%
  • Cherry – 13%
  • Blueberry – 9%
  • Pecan – 8%
  • Lemon Meringue – 8%
  • Chocolate – 5%

What is America’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert?

An all-American favorite, apple pie is a popular Thanksgiving dessert choice. To prepare an apple pie, cut, peel and cook apples on top of the stove. Mix with spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a little vanilla.

When should I make my Thanksgiving pies?

Make a few batches of pie dough now and freeze them; wrap the disks tightly in plastic wrap and thaw in the refrigerator overnight before you’re ready to use them — most pies can be made the day before Thanksgiving . Ina’s showstopping apple pie can be fully prepared and frozen up to a month in advance.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.