Plus: our best Thanksgiving recipes, holiday-safe foods for your pet, and more! β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β
| Thank you, Trish Martin in Presque Isle, Maine, for this week's cover image! | Letβs Talk Turkey! Have you ever wondered why itβs tradition for Americans to eat turkey on Thanksgiving? The legend goes that the reason extends back to the first Thanksgiving, when Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony broke bread with members of the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate the newcomersβ first harvest. While we hate to ruin a really good story, thereβs no evidence that turkey was even on the menu. An account by one of the Pilgrims in attendance references βfowlβ but doesnβt specify turkey as being served during that historical meal. βFowlβ could have meant any number of birds: chickens, ducks, and geese, to name a few. In fact, itβs just as likelyβgiven the Pilgrimsβ access to seafoodβthat lobster or clams was one of the main courses, along with venison provided by the Wampanoags. So, why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving? The answer is: We donβt really know. There are a lot of theories: Maybe itβs because the turkey was indigenous to North America. Or that one turkey could feed a lot of people. Perhaps itβs because roast turkey was President Abraham Lincolnβs favorite mealβafter all, Thanksgiving became a national holiday when he was in office. Pop culture of the time, including Charles Dickensβs A Christmas Carol, introduced the idea of turkey as being a meal saved for a special occasion. It may be unclear whether turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving, but we will admit that it makes for a pretty great storyβand maybe thatβs the reason, after all. Thanksgiving is more than a week out; chances are, youβre already planning your menu. We have the meal covered with our Best Thanksgiving Recipes (including time-tested turkey tips!). While turkey is the star of (most) Thanksgiving dinners, the side dishes are just as important. And then, of course, thereβs the most important part of the meal: dessert. On Thanksgiving, that means pie, pie, and more pie! There are also a lot of great make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes to make your holiday just a bit more relaxed. Yams or sweet potatoesβdo you know the difference? Finally, itβs natural to want ALL members of your family to enjoy Thanksgiving, but be careful what you feed your cat or dog from the table! As certain as the Sun will rise and set each day (and it willβwe promise!), The Old Farmerβs Almanac is here for you, now and always. Your Friends from The Old Farmerβs Almanac |
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βThanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. [Football] halftimes take 12 minutes. This is not a coincidence.β βErma Bombeck (1927β96), American humorist | |
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| Planning to eat a ton of turkey on Thanksgiving? Donβt feel guilty. This fun fact will give you some perspective. You are not alone! Get more Turkey Trivia Β» |
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