Fascinating Louisiana Thanksgiving Traditions and America’s Traditions Then and Now

Thanksgiving is when we reflect on our lives and are thankful for our blessings. Our feasts have come a long way since the very first harvest celebration held by the pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians. Their celebrations featured plenty of vegetables from their harvest, seafood, and five deer brought by the Indians. The celebration lasted three days.

While our Thanksgiving events don't technically last three days, most people are lucky enough to have the Friday after Thanksgiving off from work. Leftovers are typically consumed, Christmas trees are put up, and people spend time with relatives who are visiting from out of town, or you go to see your relatives.

Back in the day, people in Louisiana likely ate seafood. They really didn't get into the holiday, necessarily. And once they were made aware that President Lincoln had made Thanksgiving an official holiday in 1863 that's when more traditions began to form. People also ate what they could kill, catch, and fish for.

South Louisiana Cajuns didn't start celebrating Thanksgiving as a routine until the 1920s. Chef Marcelle Bienvenu says the main dish was duck because that's what people had at their disposal. AND, early celebrations featured some of the sweetest tasty treats around because we were, and still are, in the middle of so much sugar! Bienvenu says these dishes were also common:

• Bread pudding
• Gateau de Sirop (syrop cakes)
• Sweet rice
• Oreilles de Cochon (pig's ear pastries)

Jane Vidrine with Louisiana Folklife also points out that stuffing is cornbread dressing, oyster dressing, rice dressing, and the like. She says you could often find pork on the table for the main item, as many people had that left over from boucheries done in the fall.

The good thing is that so many of these traditions are still the same today and we have them right along with our Friday turkeys.

What Kind Of Food Was Served At The First Thanksgiving?

• Deer (brought by Indians)
• Onions
• Beans
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Peas (maybe)
• Corn mush or porridge
• Blueberries
• Plums
• Grapes
• Gooseberries
• Raspberries
• Pumpkins
• Seafood (mussels in particular)

Historians believe these were the items served at the first Thanksgiving because they were plentiful in the area at the time. Now that we know what it was probably like back then in 1621, what interesting things do we know about Thanksgiving in 2024?

One thing we know is our Thanksgiving meals are extravagant and bountiful, with plenty of side dishes and desserts. Yummy!

Wild, Fun, And Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving in 2024

How Much Is The Average Person Consuming?

We have so much to be thankful for and one way to express that is to fill our tables with amazing food. Most of us don't hold back when it comes to eating on Thanksgiving Day. WalletHub analyzed data about Thanksgiving and found the average male will eat around 4,500 calories during the Thanksgiving Meal. AND, it takes 10 hours of exercise to burn off that many calories!

How Many People Are At A Typical Thanksgiving Gathering?

The majority of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day with their friends and family. According to WalletHub, the average gathering has nine people around the table for the big meal. The statistics include the people who live in the house where everyone is gathered.

What Is The Favorite Item On American Tables?

If you ask all of America, WalletHub says the number one item that people want the most on their Thanksgiving Day table is a turkey. Now, here in Louisiana, we know how to cook a succulent turkey. People use a variety of methods, like injecting them, frying them, brining them, and roasting them over a fire; you name it, turkey is a breathtaking cacophony of flavor.

What Is The Favorite Side Item On American Table?

When they look at information for all of America, WalletHub reports the number one side dish is potatoes, BUT by a pretty small margin! We apparently LOVE our carbs. Here are the percentages:

• 78% want potatoes
• 77% want dressing or stuffing
• 74% want rolls or bread
• 65% want sweet potatoes or yams
• 52% want cranberry sauce

How Much Will A Thanksgiving Host Spend On Hosting?

Here is why when you are invited to someone's house for a regular meal or a holiday meal, you should bring a Hostess gift. The average that people spend on everything for hosting Thanksgiving Day at their home is $361, which includes the food, the drink, and the decor.

How Much Time Does a Host/Hostess Spend Preparing For Thanksgiving?

The average American Host/Hostess will spend 9.6 hours working to get everything ready for Thanksgiving. It must be exhausting.

So, just remember to enjoy yourself this Thanksgiving Day, and be grateful for whatever is on your table and the good people around you. Have a terrific one!