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The First Thanksgiving: Colonial Pilgrim’s Table Linens

T he use of decorative and protective tablecloths and table linens is an every day part of America’s dining experience and family traditions, especially at Thanksgiving. Since the first harvest feast at Plymouth in 1621, which became known as the first Thanksgiving meal, Americans have loved to set a bountiful table for food and fellowship. Unlike that honored first three day, early autumn, outdoor gathering of early Americans, that included many indigenous and 53 surviving immigrants, we now usually eat indoors with tables, chairs and all the dining frills like table cloths.

We assume that the harvest feast was eaten outside since the Colonists didn’t have a building big enough to provide accommodation to so many guests. Most likely there were no table coverings on the plank tables during the pilgrim’s three day event; and if there were it would have most likely consisted of a rug. Heavy rugs and carpet runners, not frilly cloths, would have been the traditional banquet cover of the time. Although the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans most likely had no table cloths, at least as we know them, they would have had large cloth napkins. These napkins were used to pick up hot food and to wipe their hands since the pilgrims didn’t use forks, but instead ate with spoons, knives, and fingers.

If there were anything resembling a table cloth it may have been runners or even heavy cloth folded to give added padding to the table. Today we don’t need to add layers of fabric to protect our lustrous solid wood dining room table tops since we can acquire elite custom made table pads. We also have the good fortune to be able to acquire custom-made table cloths and coverings in a range of shapes, sizes and beautiful patterns to fit any table. These efficient table pads and elegant cloths were not an option for the hard working early homemakers in Colonial America..

Tags: amish dining room table, first thanksgiving, holiday dining room table, napkins, pilgrim table settings, thanksgiving dining room table

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 12:59 am and is filed under Custom Dining Room Table Pads, Custom Dining Room Tables, Dining Room Furniture, Linens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.