The Cultural Geography of Thanksgiving

As the United States prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving with turkeys, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, the New York Times compiled a list of the quintessential Thanksgiving dish for each US state. Each dish provides an interesting insight into the cultural history and geography of the state. Take a look at some examples below!

• New York: Dutch Apple Pie
• Apple pie is an all-American favorite, but New York LOVES their Dutch Apple Pie. The Dutch were the original settlers of New York and Manhattan Island, and their traditional pie has remained long after they sold the island to the British in 1664. Even after the Dutch relinquished control over present-day New York City, Dutch immigrants continued to settle in New York, helping dig canals and contributing to New York's cultural geography.
• Alaska: Russian Salmon Pie
• Well, perhaps this is the quintessential Alaskan Thanksgiving dish because Alaskans can see Russia from their houses... Clearly, Alaska has a booming fishing industry that revolves around salmon. Moreover, the Russians were the first to settle in Alaska, and the United States had to purchase Alaska (then mocked as "Seward's Ice Box" - opinions changed when they discovered gold there...) from Russia. Anyways, this dish combines cabbage, a favorite of Eastern European Russians, and the salmon omnipresent in Alaskan waters.
• Wyoming: Three Sisters Stew
• Wyoming's quintessential Thanksgiving dish is indicative of the Plains Indians' cuisine which originally inhabited the state. Filled with turkey and pork, two meats native to the Plains, this stew reflects the agricultural habits of the Plains Indians. They used a technique called "Three Sister Farming," hence Three Sisters Stew. They grew corn, beans, and squash plants all next to each other in order to preserve the soil. And, I bet you guessed it! This stew contains the three sisters - corn, beans, and squash!

What cultural geography links can you make with your state's favorite Thanksgiving dish?

South Carolina's dish, Salty Pluff Mud Pie, combines honey, butter, cream, and cocoa powder. Anyone want to move to Charleston?