Turkey will grace the tables of more than 60 percent of Americans on Thanksgiving Day. Just about all the turkeys being served on the holiday are the domestic species although a few people will serve the wild birds.
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in October 1621 by pilgrims. The feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Americans Indians and 53 pilgrims. President Abraham Lincoln declared that Thanksgiving be a national holiday in 1863.
The first Thanksgiving feast consisted of wild turkeys, venison, ducks and geese. Nowadays the birds are domestic and approximately 50 million turkeys are served on the holiday and. according to the National Turkey Federation, 88 percent of Americans will be eating turkey on Thanksgiving
A look at the turkey that will grace the Thanksgiving Day table shows a vast difference between it and its wild turkey cousin. Whereas tame turkeys have large and, plump breasts, short legs and can barely walk without falling over, the wild turkey has a v-shaped breast and long legs. The wild bird is also much leaner and the legs tougher. Originally all the domestic turkeys were of the bronze color, the same as the wild ones, but years ago farmers bred turkeys to be white because when the feathers were plucked from a white bird the pin feathers left in the bird were white, which made the bird more attractive in the supermarkets. They are bred for tenderness and more than 280 million are raised in this country annually. Turkeys are ready for the table after only 18 weeks and California is considered one of the leading states for turkey production with 15 million turkeys raised annually. A domestic turkey can live as long as 15 years.
The University of Illinois has published some fascinating facts about our Thanksgiving bird.
Turkey hens are usually sold as whole birds. Toms are processed into turkey sausage, turkey franks, tenderloins, cutlets and deli meats. The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. The heaviest domestic turkey ever raised weighed 86 pounds and was raised in England. It takes 75-80 pounds of feed to raise a 30-pound tom turkey.
The ballroom dance, the “Turkey Trot,” was named for the short, jerky steps turkeys take. Turkeys are believed to have been brought to Britain in 1526 by Yorkshire man William Strickland. He acquired six turkeys from American Indian traders and sold them in Bristol. Two-hundred years ago turkeys in England were walked to market in herds. They wore booties to protect their feet. Turkeys also were walked to market in the United States. Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to the President of the United States. The President does not eat the live turkey. He “pardons” it and allows it to live out its days on a historical farm.
Unlike their wild cousins, the domestic turkey is considered one of the dumbest animals around. They are bred for size and often can’t walk but a few steps before falling over. When I was a boy in Minnesota there were several turkey farms in our area and the farmers were forced to cover the feed barrels because a turkey would jump into it for food and others would follow, smothering some of the birds. Baby domestic turkeys are taught how to eat. Farmers take a pan of seed and place brightly colored marbles in the food. The baby turkeys would peck at the marbles and would accidentally inhale some of the seed. This action taught them how to eat.
Of course, the most important part about Thanksgiving is visiting with family. Dining on a turkey just adds to the experience.
