A staple of modern American Thanksgiving celebrations - the roasted turkey - has a surprising history that predates the traditional narrative. When did this dish become synonymous with the holiday? To answer this question, we need to look back at how Thanksgiving was originally celebrated in the early 17th century.
At that time, it's unlikely that the main course featured roasted turkey, contrary to popular belief. As historian Troy Bickham explains, only two accounts of early Thanksgiving feasts mention food, and neither mentions turkey specifically. The truth is, we just don't know for certain what was served at those meals. One thing we do know is that venison, not turkey, was likely on the menu.
So why did turkey become a staple in modern American Thanksgiving? According to Bickham, it's largely due to economics. Turkey is cheap and abundant, making it an attractive choice for holiday meals. In other words, it's the perfect candidate to fill the table space at a time when food production was becoming more industrialized.
In terms of actual harvest festivals, Thanksgiving-like celebrations have been observed by various cultures throughout history - from ancient civilizations like the Inca and Maya to modern-day agricultural societies. These events often serve two purposes: they express gratitude for the harvest season's bounty and pray for the community's survival through the winter months.
The idea of Thanksgiving as we know it today gained momentum during the Civil War era, largely thanks to the efforts of writer Sarah Hale. She advocated for a national holiday that would promote unity and healing among Americans, and her campaign eventually led to Abraham Lincoln signing the bill into law in 1863.
However, the actual food served at these early Thanksgiving gatherings was far from the golden-brown turkey we're familiar with today. The introduction of side dishes like pumpkin pie, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce transformed the traditional feast into a more elaborate spread that catered to diverse tastes and textures.
Despite its long history, there's no doubt that our modern notion of Thanksgiving - with its emphasis on family gatherings, football games, and, of course, the majestic turkey centerpiece - has been somewhat sanitized over time. As historian Troy Bickham astutely observes, this glamorized image of a golden-brown bird has endured for reasons both practical and symbolic.
It's worth noting that Americans consume about one-fifth of their total turkeys on Thanksgiving Day alone. While I personally don't have a taste for turkey (let alone the elaborate sides that come with it), there's no denying the allure of this holiday tradition.
Ultimately, what makes Thanksgiving work is its adaptability to diverse cultures and lifestyles. Whether you're a traditionalist who sticks to the classic menu or someone who prefers an entirely different spread, Thanksgiving remains a time for sharing meals with loved ones - and enjoying each other's company, no matter what the cuisine may be.
At that time, it's unlikely that the main course featured roasted turkey, contrary to popular belief. As historian Troy Bickham explains, only two accounts of early Thanksgiving feasts mention food, and neither mentions turkey specifically. The truth is, we just don't know for certain what was served at those meals. One thing we do know is that venison, not turkey, was likely on the menu.
So why did turkey become a staple in modern American Thanksgiving? According to Bickham, it's largely due to economics. Turkey is cheap and abundant, making it an attractive choice for holiday meals. In other words, it's the perfect candidate to fill the table space at a time when food production was becoming more industrialized.
In terms of actual harvest festivals, Thanksgiving-like celebrations have been observed by various cultures throughout history - from ancient civilizations like the Inca and Maya to modern-day agricultural societies. These events often serve two purposes: they express gratitude for the harvest season's bounty and pray for the community's survival through the winter months.
The idea of Thanksgiving as we know it today gained momentum during the Civil War era, largely thanks to the efforts of writer Sarah Hale. She advocated for a national holiday that would promote unity and healing among Americans, and her campaign eventually led to Abraham Lincoln signing the bill into law in 1863.
However, the actual food served at these early Thanksgiving gatherings was far from the golden-brown turkey we're familiar with today. The introduction of side dishes like pumpkin pie, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce transformed the traditional feast into a more elaborate spread that catered to diverse tastes and textures.
Despite its long history, there's no doubt that our modern notion of Thanksgiving - with its emphasis on family gatherings, football games, and, of course, the majestic turkey centerpiece - has been somewhat sanitized over time. As historian Troy Bickham astutely observes, this glamorized image of a golden-brown bird has endured for reasons both practical and symbolic.
It's worth noting that Americans consume about one-fifth of their total turkeys on Thanksgiving Day alone. While I personally don't have a taste for turkey (let alone the elaborate sides that come with it), there's no denying the allure of this holiday tradition.
Ultimately, what makes Thanksgiving work is its adaptability to diverse cultures and lifestyles. Whether you're a traditionalist who sticks to the classic menu or someone who prefers an entirely different spread, Thanksgiving remains a time for sharing meals with loved ones - and enjoying each other's company, no matter what the cuisine may be.
The thought that the roasted turkey has been associated with Thanksgiving for so long is quite surprising, considering it wasn't even on the menu back in the 1600s 
. I mean, who would've thought that a bird that's actually pretty bland would become the centerpiece of a huge meal? And economics plays such a big role in all this - cheap and abundant, yeah, that makes sense. But at the same time, it's also kinda sad that the traditional Thanksgiving has been sanitized over time, losing some of its original purpose 
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. And hey, as long as people are coming together to share meals and celebrate the harvest season, that's all that really matters 
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like the turkey's not even necessary anymore, but we still eat it anyway. i mean, who needs that much pumpkin pie when you could have a nice piece of apple cake instead? 
! So, it turns out that the star of our Thanksgiving table wasn't always the centerpiece – in fact, venison was probably on the menu back in the day 
. As for me, turkey's not really my thing... give me a good ol' plate of mashed potatoes and green beans any day 
! But hey, being adaptable is key to making Thanksgiving work – whether you stick to tradition or create your own masterpiece, it's all about sharing meals with the people you love 
venison probly wud b more likley 
from harvest festivals 2 modern-day celebrations 
I think its kinda cool how we tend to associate turkey with Thanksgiving now, but the truth is, it was never really that popular back in the day 
. But at the same time, its great to see how Thanksgiving has evolved over time and become a symbol of community and gratitude 
. Its also worth noting that the food on our tables should be about more than just taste - it should bring us together and make us feel good 
anyway idk about this sanitized version of thanksgiving though... feels like we're missing out on some of the original history and cultural context 
. Pumpkin pie, green bean casserole... those are some iconic combos! 
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. But hey, economics is a harsh reality - cheap and abundant doesn't lie! 
. And can you believe we didn't even know for sure what people were eating at those early feasts? Mind blown! 
I mean, it's interesting how economics played a role in making it the centerpiece of Thanksgiving, but come on, 5th of November was always meant to be roasted goose in some European countries, right? 
Anyway, love how the original American Thanksgiving celebrations were way more vague about the food 
Pumpkin pie is life-changing, am I right? 
I mean, have you tried a nice roasted chicken or even better, a juicy vegan option? But anywayz, it's kinda interesting how turkey became a staple on thanksgiving, idk if i'd say its the best idea but at least its cheap and abundant 
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. So yeah, even if the turkey thing is kinda wonky, Thanksgiving is still one of my favorite holidays