GOBBLE, GOBBLE The Thanksgiving Turkey Tradition
Part of what makes special occasions special is the foods they are synonymous with. We have cake on our birthdays, candy on Halloween, and turkey on Thanksgiving. How these culinary staples became linked with these holidays is rarely questioned because we all enjoy sweets, and blowing out candles is fun. But is that reason enough for them to be integral to our holidays? Why is Thanksgiving Day, the celebration of harvest and gratitude, synonymous with turkey dinner? The Original Menu Many in America believe we model our Thanksgiving cuisine after the menu of offerings available during the original feast. But in 1621, the Plymouth Pilgrims and Wampanoag did not eat like we do today. Moreover, they did not see their meal as a special occasion. Thanksgiving dinner has been used to celebrate the autumn harvest
for hundreds of years and is a tradition that predates the colonies. The Wampanoag people brought venison to the party, and the Pilgrims supposedly brought wildfowl. While an estimated 10 million wild turkeys were prowling the Americas at the time, the Pilgrims more likely dined on duck and goose — which begs the question: If the Pilgrims didn’t eat turkey on the “original” Thanksgiving, why do we? A Love/Hate Relationship Turkey became the staple of Thanksgiving dinner due to a few contributing factors. Unlike chickens and cows, which can provide eggs and milk, turkeys are only useful to farmers as a source of meat. As gruesome as it may sound, that fact also makes turkeys disposable. Additionally, one turkey can typically feed a whole family, so it became a popular source of protein in America. However, it may be cultural staples, like
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and Sarah Hale’s novel “Northwood,” both portraying decadent turkey meals, that played a more significant part in its popularity on the holiday table. Hale was also a key campaigner for Thanksgiving to bring together families across America and repair a nation splintered by the Civil War. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln granted her wish and made Thanksgiving an official national holiday. She was likely the biggest factor in turning turkey into the star of Thanksgiving dinner and, as a result, is likely the nemesis of turkeys everywhere. In 2022, about 210 million turkeys were farmed across the country, and Americans consumed 46 million on Thanksgiving alone.
Join Our Annual Toy Drive for JaxPAL Kids! SPREAD HOLIDAY JOY
We’re delighted to announce our annual toy drive for the children of the Westside Center at JaxPAL! This holiday season, we have the chance to make Christmas a little brighter for these wonderful kids, and we’d love for you to join us in spreading the joy. From Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, through Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, we’ll be collecting donations to fulfill the Christmas wishes of each child. Every donation is greatly appreciated; and, with your generosity, we can ensure that each child’s holiday is filled with warmth, love, and the magic of the season. To become an “angel” for one of these kids, please reach out to Andrea or Robin at 904-232-8760 for complete details. They’ll provide you with a wish list so you can shop for a gift that’s a perfect match for your chosen child. We would be happy to do the shopping for you and purchase the actual gift with your thoughtful contribution, and we will even wrap the gift too! We want to make life easy for you, and we want EVERY child to feel our love! We’ll also celebrate the season by throwing the kids an awesome Christmas party, at which time your donated gifts will light up their faces with an abundance of joy and excitement. This is an incredible opportunity to give back to our community, and it’s a golden opportunity to make a real positive and personalized impact in the lives of these children. Thank you for helping us make this holiday season unforgettable for the kids at the Westside Center. Your kindness makes all the difference!
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2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! Jacksonville & Fleming Island
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