Thanksgiving: A Culinary Journey from Gilded Age Extravagance to Family Tradition

by Jasmine October 1, 2024

written by Jasmine October 1, 2024

Thanksgiving: From Gilded Age Extravagance to Family Tradition

The Gilded Age: Fancy Thanksgiving Dinners for the Elite

During the Gilded Age, wealthy Americans celebrated Thanksgiving in style, dining at luxurious hotels and restaurants. Elaborate menus featured delicacies like turtle soup, duck liver, and Peking duck. These extravagant feasts were a symbol of abundance and a way to flaunt one’s wealth.

The Waldorf Astoria’s Extravagant Thanksgiving Celebration

The Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City was known for its over-the-top Thanksgiving celebrations. In 1915, the hotel erected a mock New England barn in its grillroom, complete with live animals and a dancing scarecrow. Well-heeled diners feasted on gourmet cuisine and danced the night away, paying homage to the holiday’s rural roots.

The Decline of Fancy Thanksgiving Dinners

The combination of Prohibition and the Great Depression led to a decline in fancy Thanksgiving dinners. Restaurants continued to offer grand feasts, but they were no longer as popular. By the mid-20th century, Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting “Freedom from Want” had cemented the image of Thanksgiving as a family-oriented holiday centered around a home-cooked meal.

The Resurgence of Dining Out on Thanksgiving

In recent years, dining out on Thanksgiving has seen a resurgence. A 2011 survey found that 14 million Americans dined out on the holiday. More restaurants are now open on Thanksgiving to accommodate the growing demand. This shift reflects the changing nature of American families and the desire for a more flexible and adaptable holiday celebration.

The Significance of Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want” Painting

Norman Rockwell’s 1943 painting “Freedom from Want” played a significant role in shaping the modern image of Thanksgiving. The painting depicts a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a large extended family gathered around the table. It has become a symbol of the holiday and the importance of family togetherness.

Thanksgiving: A Holiday in Transition

Thanksgiving has evolved over time from a harvest festival shared with Native Americans to an extravagant celebration of abundance in the Gilded Age to a more domestically oriented holiday centered around family and tradition. While the traditional home-cooked meal remains popular, dining out on Thanksgiving has become an increasingly common option, reflecting the changing demographics and lifestyles of American families.

Jasmine

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