FLORIDA — According to the Jacksonville Historical Society, 56 years before the pilgrims celebrated their feast, Spanish explorer Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles arrived at the coast of Florida. He came ashore on Sept. 8, 1565, naming the land on which he stepped "St. Augustine" in honor of the saint on whose feast day, Aug. 28, the land was sighted. Members of the Timucua tribe, which had occupied the site for more than 4,000 years, greeted Menéndez and his group of some 800 Catholic colonists peacefully.
Given the depleted state of the French food provisions after their long journey, much of the celebratory meal would likely have been provided by the Timucua, who were excellent hunters and had access to enormous granaries that were used to store and dispense commonly harvested agricultural goods.
TRENDING STORIES:
Since quite a bit is known about the Timucuan diet, it can be surmised that Laudonnière's feast would have included corn, beans, squash and pumpkins (which the Timucua farmed on a limited basis), as well as local fowl, oysters, shrimp, mullet, deer - and, yes, alligator. Apparently, the Timucua preferred it smoked, the Jacksonville Historical Society says.
Click here to read the full story.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
Cox Media Group
