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#  Thanksgiving Myths, Foods & Forgotten Traditions

November 21 2025

Written by Michael Carruthers.

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Ever wonder what was actually served at the very first Thanksgiving? Much of what we learned in school doesn’t hold up. In this special bonus holiday episode, we unpack some of the most surprising — and misunderstood — moments in Thanksgiving history.

We start with a beloved modern ritual: the presidential turkey pardon. It’s a quirky White House tradition with roots that go all the way back to the 1800s. I reveal how this annual ceremony really began and [why it stuck.](https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/which-president-started-the-tradition-of-pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey) ⁠

Then we dive into the truth behind that famous 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. What did they actually eat? And what parts of our holiday table didn’t appear until centuries later? My guest Leslie Landrigan, author of [Historic Thanksgiving Foods: And the People who Cooked Them, 1607 to 1955 (⁠https://amzn.to/40NW23s⁠)](https://amzn.to/40NW23s), helps untangle myth from history.

Finally, why are we talking about “Jingle Bells” in a Thanksgiving episode? Because the song wasn’t written for Christmas at all — it was a Thanksgiving tune. I share the [surprising backstory](https://www.bu.edu/articles/2016/jingle-bells-history/) behind this holiday crossover classic.

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