Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

By Mark Phoenix posted November 9, 2022

It had to be indescribably difficult to give thanks when the first 38 settlers arrived on December 4th 1619 in what is now called Virginia.  My research reveals that food was scarce, illness and death among the first settlers was widespread.  There was very little cause to give thanks or have hope for a prosperous future. 

It wasn’t until more English settlers arrived in 1620 and 1621 in Plymouth Massachusetts that things began to turn around.  The Wampanoag people showed those settlers how to plant corn.  Yet, the first harvest didn’t yield much that was edible.  Still, the English settlers wanted to give thanks to both God and the Wampanoag people in late 1621.  For meat, the Wampanoag brought deer and research reveals the Pilgrims provided “wild fowl”.  They could have meant turkey by using the term “wild fowl”, since turkey was native to the immediate area.  But, historians who have extensively researched the topic feel the “wild fowl” was most likely ducks or geese.  Also, lobster, clams, nuts, beans, pumpkins, squashes, and corn (served in the form of bread or porridge) were on the menu, also. 

The original colonists likely did not have potatoes, butter, or access to flour.  So, no mashed potatoes or pies were enjoyed that first Thanksgiving feast.

There is one firsthand account of that first Thanksgiving meal.  Colonist William Bradford kept a journal titled “Of Plimoth Plantation”.  Mr. Bradford writes “…besides waterfowl, there was a great store of wild turkeys”.  I have read contradicting accounts of whether there was turkey served at the first Thanksgiving.  In short, nothing I have read can prove there was turkey served at the first Thanksgiving.

There is this entry from colonist Edward Winslow’s journal who writes “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”  Can you imagine "exercising your arm" by “feasting” for three days?

The popularity of Turkey served for Thanksgiving seems to have caught the nations imagination around the 1850’s.  After 1863, the year when President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day a national holiday, turkey began to land on dinner plates across the United States, in part because turkey was plentiful and affordable, at the time.

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trivia

I discovered some interesting facts about white and dark meat found in turkeys.  Wild turkey meat tends to be dark meat because they are strong runners and they are also capable of flying.  Domestic, factory produced turkeys have both white and dark meat because their muscles don’t develop as well as their wild counter-parts.  Turkeys use their legs and thighs to run, which requires more oxygen-carrying blood vessels which makes the meat darker.  However, breast muscles are used often by wild or domestic turkeys, so there are less blood vessels delivered less oxygen to that area of their bodies, thus making the meat lighter in color.  Perhaps you can use some of this information for Thanksgiving Day table talk.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!