Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

According to the National Turkey Federation, Americans eat as many as 46 million turkeys every Thanksgiving. That’s a whole lot of poultry. Most of us probably have nostalgic memories of our own holiday gatherings centered around this delicious meal. But have you ever stopped to consider why (and how) turkey became the must-have dish on every American Thanksgiving dinner table? Read on to find out.

A Little Thanksgiving History

Do you remember back in elementary school when the teacher passed out colorful construction paper and scissors and asked you to make paper turkeys while you listened to the story of the first Thanksgiving? Well, contrary to what some believe, many historians say it was unlikely that turkey was the star of the show all the way back in 1621. Wild game and fowl, such as venison, goose and duck, were more likely served.

Then where did the turkey idea come from?

Sarah Hale, a magazine editor who lived almost 250 years after that famous meal between pilgrims and the Wampanoag, believed turkey was served at the meal. And she promoted it heavily in her vision, which spread like wildfire from New England into other regions of the United States. She is also noted as one of the more outspoken campaigners who pushed for Thanksgiving Day to be recognized as a national holiday.

See more: 27 Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes to Rival the Turkey

An American Bird

It wasn’t just Hale’s vision of the first Thanksgiving that encouraged Americans throughout the country to serve turkey for dinner every November. It did, however, impact her fellow New Englanders, which progressively migrated west over the course of a century.

What some suggest really brought the matter home is a comment from Alexander Hamilton. He once said, “No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day.”

Some historians say Hamilton was a known turkey enthusiast, but he also wanted to unify Americans across state borders with traditions such as sharing the same meals on the same day. Turkey, which also happened to be a native North American bird, was one way to set American citizens apart from their British ancestors.

It didn’t hurt that turkeys were prolific across the country. Indigenous, fairly easy to find and often spotted on people’s properties already, hunting and cooking a turkey just made sense. You could also expect to feed a good-sized crowd with just one bird, which would often weigh in between 15 and 20 pounds. Compared to your average chicken, especially back in the days of Hamilton, turkey was a much more practical choice.

A Few Fun Turkey Facts

• Wild turkeys have primarily dark meat (because they run and fly). Domestic turkeys, on the other hand, have both white and dark meat (because they don’t use their muscles as often).
• Remember how we said Americans consume around 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving? That’s about the same number as the population of Spain.
• Commercial turkeys sold in grocery stores average around 30 pounds.
• A turkey dinner, complete with oyster dressing, cranberry sauce and English plum pudding, would have cost you 25 cents at People’s Restaurant in Los Angeles in 1894.
• The National Turkey Federation initiated the tradition of presenting the President of the United States with a live turkey in 1947.
• John F. Kennedy was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1963. The tradition continued, and President George H.W. Bush made the pardoning ceremony an official tradition in 1989.

See more: Where Does Your Thanksgiving Dinner Come From?

Holiday Turkey Recipes

Easy Brined Turkey

Try brining your turkey this Thanksgiving for a deliciously moist and flavorful bird.

Citrus Marinated Smoked Turkey Breast

Tart citrus fruits add bright flavor to smoked turkey breast.

Marinade Mama Mia for Deep-Fried Turkey

Before deep-frying your turkey, use this marinade of Italian dressing, cayenne pepper and Creole seasoning for an extra kick.