Final answer:
Turkey was not the central dish at the first Thanksgiving in 1621; instead, the meal likely consisted of venison, ducks, geese, fish, and beer, with participants eating with their fingers and without the use of formal dining utensils.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the famous "first" Thanksgiving in September or October of 1621, it is unlikely that turkey was the main dish as we might imagine today. Instead, the historical accounts suggest that the Pilgrims and the Native Americans feasted on a variety of other meats. According to the descriptions provided by participants such as Edward Winslow, the spread included a large number of ducks and geese that the Pilgrims had killed. In addition, Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag, and his people brought five deer to the feast. These deer were roasted on spits, and along with the waterfowl, venison became a central part of the meal. The participants also consumed fish, with beer being mentioned as a beverage. Notably absent from the feast were later Thanksgiving staples like pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. Moreover, this meal was consumed in a very informal setting, where eating utensils were limited to knives, and people ate with their fingers while sprawled out on the ground.