Why Do We Eat Turkey for Thanksgiving?

It’s the centerpiece of the holiday meal and the reason that most of us end up asleep in front of the T.V. the second we get home from dinner with relatives. Turkey is a signature food for the holiday season. Have you ever stopped and wondered why we eat turkey for Thanksgiving? Could it be the influence and tradition of the pilgrims, or maybe just the turkey’s overall deliciousness?

The history of the gobbler in the middle of the table is as mysterious as the Thanksgiving holiday itself. Pieces of history and cultural legend come together to determine the fate of the turkey. Some experts report that wild turkeys were ran or “showcased” through the United States for ages, long before the time of the pilgrims. In these “showcases” farmers would bring their turkeys to town for people to buy and view for their own dinners. This was especially helpful as Thanksgiving approached as people could get a good turkey before the upcoming holidays – not much different than the mad rush at the grocery store that some experience in hopes of preparing their own holiday meals.

Other experts claim that colonist William Strickland was the first to introduce turkey to his native England in the 16th century. Turkey at that time was seen as an extravagance in England, and the tradition followed until more recent times. However, one of the first mentions of Turkey as a celebratory roast is found in Charles Dicken’s a Christmas Carol. That being said, there is a varied history on the dominance of the turkey. Several people are credited with the popularity of turkey as a dish in the United States. Some historians credit Sarah Joseph Hale as the unofficial godmother of Thanksgiving, as she emphasized the use of roast turkey. Eventually, others would build on her revelations regarding its existing role in English feasts, as well as using the turkey for the practicality of its size.

Many believed that the size of the turkey was a particularly heavy argument in the deciding factor of popularity. However, some people may follow in the footsteps of forefather Benjamin Franklin in his notion that the turkey was the most respectable bird for America. Still others go back to the days of old and the original turkey drives that kept them in such popular opinion.

So there you have it. The turkey has been paraded in the Thanksgiving holiday from almost the beginning. While most of us don’t kill our own turkeys nowadays, it is always interesting to think about why the bird ended up on our table in the first place, and enjoy the traditions that follows its presence.