Thanksgiving is incomplete without mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie—but a turkey is an absolute must at the dinner table. If you’ve ever wondered how roasted turkey became a staple of this American holiday, there’s more than one reason why people love it so much.
Mysterious History
The Pilgrims served “wild fowl” at the first Thanksgiving gatherings, but it’s widely believed they didn’t eat turkey at the time. It’s possible that some of the early celebrations included turkey, but that’s not the main reason why it became a staple of the Thanksgiving menu.
Practical Reasons
Roasted turkey became a popular Thanksgiving dish for pragmatic reasons. Turkeys are native to North America, and they can be found in abundance on this continent. They’re large enough to feed an entire family and serve no other purpose—since they can’t produce milk and eggs. They’re generally raised for their meat, and that made them a perfect fit for big family dinners.
Literary Ties
The publication of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in the 1840s boosted the popularity of roasted turkey as a holiday meal. Writer Sarah Josepha Hale, who campaigned to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, also described turkey as a part of holiday dinner in her book Northwood.
