Final answer:
The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was a historical event celebrated by Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians with a meal that included venison, fish, and fowl, but lacked modern staples like pumpkin pie.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event known as the first Thanksgiving is a significant historical occurrence that took place in 1621. In this gathering, the Pilgrims celebrated their harvest alongside the Wampanoag Indians in what is currently Massachusetts. The feast included venison, fish, fowl, and beer, markedly different from today's traditional turkey and pumpkin pie. It is described by Edward Winslow in Mourt's Relation, highlighting the cooperation and shared celebration between the two distinct cultures. Participants consumed their meal in a very communal fashion, eating with their fingers and sitting on the ground, which illustrates the simplicity and pragmatism of the time. The details were documented by historians like Nathaniel Philbrick, reinforcing the absence of modern Thanksgiving staples such as pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce from the original event.