How the Turkey became a Symbol of Thanksgiving
The North American turkey was a source of food for local native Americans long before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. No doubt, it was on the menu for the Pilgrims, since Governor Bradford mentioned that they ate wild fowl, which would have included turkey. There isn’t any hard evidence that they actually ate turkey at the first harvest festival, now known as Thanksgiving, but we do know that it was available.Over a century and a half later, Benjamin Franklin was so enthralled by this noble native, that he seriously wanted it to be declared the national bird, pointing out that it has a better disposition than the eagle and is not a bird of prey.While the turkey may have been voted down as the national bird, when it came time to recreate an early Thanksgiving meal, people looked to the old records and decided that turkey was the most common fowl available. It was native to America, easily found, since it had been domesticated, and even still found wild in the woodlands. Those that lived along the seaboard, could, of course, still include the seafood that was served at Thanksgiving, and hunters could add venison, but for convenience, the turkey ranked high on the list.One popular theory is that early pilgrims to the colonies were accustomed to having roast goose for celebrations in their native lands, and turkey was the closest bird they could easily find. By its sheer size and grandeur, it became the chosen meat served at special events. Turkey, unlike chicken, is also large. Having a very large bird when serving a harvest dinner or Thanksgiving, is also a plus, since you are likely to be serving a large crowd. Due to the size, one or two turkeys could easily feed a large number of people.The taste of turkey, domestic or wild, is also preferred by many people over other wild game and even chicken. Wild turkeys feed on berries, nuts and other natural food sources, that some people claim is partially responsible for their delectable taste.Turkeys were also not the expensive food item that they can sometimes be today. They were raised on farms, and literally hundreds of them roamed free in the woods, and, given the fact that they aren’t prone to speedy flight, they were more easily hunted.For whatever reason, the tradition grew, and for a lot of people, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without this bird.
