Thanksgiving has become synonymous with turkey, but you might be surprised to learn that during the very first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims likely feasted on a variety of wildfowl, including goose and duck, rather than turkey. So, how did turkey make its way to become a staple on every Thanksgiving table? Over the years, turkey gained popularity due to its abundance, and its large size made it ideal for feeding families during the harvest celebration. This shift in preference helped cement turkey's place in our Thanksgiving traditions, transforming it from an absent dish at the first Thanksgiving to a central symbol of the holiday we know today.
Queen Elizabeth
Another theory is that Queen Elizabeth was feasting on roast goose during a harvest festival. When the news was delivered to her that the Spanish Armada had sunk on its way to attack England, the queen was so pleased that she ordered a second goose to celebrate the news. Thus, the goose became the favored bird to dine on during harvest time in England. Once the Pilgrims arrived (and survived that first winter), roasted turkey eventually replaced the roast goose as the season’s celebratory cuisine. Turkeys were more abundant and easier to find than geese.
William Bradford
William Bradford, the governor at the first Thanksgiving, wrote in his diary that "our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. ...And besides waterfowl, there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc." Those diaries were lost and not rediscovered until 1856. However, when President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, proponents of the holiday promoted turkey as the meal's centerpiece.
Turkey
When considering the choices for a holiday meal, turkeys stand out due to their size. They are significantly larger than chickens or ducks, making them an excellent option for feeding a large family. If you had to hunt for your dinner, wouldn't you prefer to maximize the amount of meat on the table? Interestingly, a 2007 article in Slate noted that the publication of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" in 1843 may have contributed to the turkey's status as a holiday delicacy when Ebenezer Scrooge gifts a turkey to the Cratchit family for Christmas.
Tradition
Have you ever wondered why we eat turkey at Thanksgiving? Like many traditions, there are multiple reasons why turkey has become a staple of this holiday feast. While families often include pumpkin pie and other delicious dishes, each gathering boasts its own distinctive menu. What does your table look like?