Turkey
By myahw20
@myahw20 (1115)
Canada
October 13, 2008 10:36am CST
I am still wondering up to this point what the association of eating turkey is for thanksgiving. It is tradition here in North America to eat turkey for thanksgiving. I know that turkey is big so it might be a symbol of abundance. Is that the reason why?
Does anyone know the origin of this tradition?
Are you serving turkey tonight for your thanksgiving meal?
2 responses
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
13 Oct 08
Turkey was not traditionally on the menu until sometime after 1800. I don't think it's really known why it's traditional to have it now. They do know that it was a habit in New England since 1857. My guess is it was readily available in the wild, relatively easy to hunt, and provides plenty of food. At the time meat wasn't something people ate daily or even weekly. And with the turkey meat being delicious and so readily available, why slaughter a cow, goat, pig, or chicken?
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
13 Oct 08
The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.
According to the diary of William Bradford, there was great store of wild turkeys. This document was lost to the British until 1854 and since then turkey turned out to be a popular symbol of the Thanksgiving Day.
