Purcell second graders were asked about what they thought it was like for the Pilgrims at the very first Thanksgiving Dinner celebrations and what is their favorite part of the holiday.

Although there were varied responses, most agreed there was mashed potatoes at the first holiday gathering along with pumpkin pie.

As for their favorite part of the holiday, the common denominator for the elementary students was spending time with family.

In their own words, the first Thanksgiving Dinner went like this:

Laiklynn Harper, “It was exciting! They had a lot of food to eat.”

She said it was mostly women and men and she didn’t know if they had any visitors.

“They had turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry, I think. And they had pumpkin pie. I love pumpkin pie.”

Her favorite part of the holiday is being with family.

After much thought, Dilan Alferez, said, “They had turkey, pumpkin pie and there were no visitors, just pilgrims.”

Asked if they played games, he answered, “There were no games and the dinner lasted all afternoon.”

Luke Manzerall, “It was good. They had bread and fish to eat and they played tag and soccer. It lasted an hour. At the end, they ate pumpkin pie.”

Oliver Criswell, “They had mashed potatoes, turkey, fruit and dessert that was pie.”

He said, “Yes, they had some Indians that were visitors and it lasted forever.”

His favorite thing about the holiday is “baked carrots.”

Cole Bates had a different take.

“They had pancakes and eggs,” he proclaimed.

Asked if they had any visitors, Cole said, “I wasn’t there.” If they played games? “I don’t know because I wasn’t there. Well probably but I don’t know what they were.”

His favorite part of the holiday is, “the games.”

Harmony Trejo-Resendiz, “They set up the tables and decorated them for Thanksgiving,” she said of the first Thanksgiving.

Asked if they had visitors Harmony said, “I forget. There is a lot of stuff that’s hard to memorize. They ate mashed potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie after the meal.”

The games they played? “It was just like Candy Land, maybe checkers or there are a lot of board games and UNO. I love Candy Land.”

Her favorite part of the holiday? “Spending time with my family and eating pumpkin pie.”

Caleb Lara

“We get together with our family, my cousins and stuff. They had chicken and rice, drinks, cookies and stuff.”

He likes to play, Roblox and playing by himself.

His favorite part of the holiday is, “eating and eating with my cousins.”

Ireland Fabian “Pilgrims were there and their visitors were Indians. They had turkey and pumpkin pie. They did not play games.”

Her favorite part of the holiday, “is spending time with my family.”

Onyx Pope, “I think they had turkey and mashed potatoes. They had no visitors.”

As far as games go, “I think so but I forgot what games they played.”

His favorite part of the holiday is, “Pumpkin pie.”

Kelsey Klein, “On the first Thanksgiving they had a lot of food.”

She wasn’t sure about visitors but did say, “They had pumpkins and fruit, vegetables and maybe pumpkin squash.”

The games they played?

“I think maybe they played hide and seek,” she said.

Her favorite part of the holiday is, “spending time with my family and making deviled eggs with my family.”