The Plymouth Pilgrims invited their Indian neighbors to the first Thanksgiving, but the next year the Indians had a prior engagement, and ditto for the 399 years after that.

The first tin cans were made in the now-familiar shape so that they would exactly cover a log of cranberry sauce in its traditional cylindrical form.

The original Thanksgiving turkey was a last-minute substitute. The Pilgrims had intended to serve crêpes Suzette, but were disappointed to discover that no Suzette grew in the Massachusetts woods.

The so-called “stuffing” or “dressing” familiar on American Thanksgiving tables originated as spectacularly failed attempt at a turkey sandwich.

Marshmallows are a kind of fungus that grows on the surface of baked sweet potatoes, a well-known example of a symbiotic relationship.

A recent investigative report by the Dispatch found that 73% of all pies labeled “sweet potato” are actually pumpkin, and vice versa.