10 Little Known Thanksgiving Facts

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As we belly up to the table to eat massive amounts of turkey…here is some food for thought on Thanksgiving.

1. Thomas Jefferson thought the idea of Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard.”

2. Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be a turkey. That would just be weird. An eagle, he wrote in a letter to his daughter, had “bad moral character.” A turkey, on the other hand, was a “much more respectable bird.”

3. Turkeys were one of the first species to be domesticated in America. Guess that makes countries like China or Korea almost normal. ( research their delicacies as I prefer not to give credit here)

4. Sarah Josepha Hale, an editor, and author of ‘Mary had a little lamb’, tried to make Thanksgiving a holiday in 1827 and was successful.

5. Congress did not declare Thanksgiving a national holiday until 1941. It was declared to be the fourth Thursday of November.

6. The first Thanksgiving lasted three days. Maybe that’s why people eat three days worth in one day.

7. Since Harry Truman a turkey has been pardoned for Thanksgiving every year.

8. T.V. dinners would never have existed if Thanksgiving did not happen.  After over estimating by 26 tons of turkey for the holiday Swanson sliced and repackaged it into the frozen T.V. dinner.

9. Turkeys are known to have heart attacks just like people. After some Air Force flight practice testing the sound barrier they found turkeys in the area dead.

10. Turkeys will be eaten by 91% of Americans, the percentage may decrease with the vegan alternatives that have appeared like Tofurky. Of these turkeys fifty percent will be filled with stuffing.

11. Bonus – New recipes have appeared like the Turducken, a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken.  Bacon wrapped turkey (just as delicious as it sounds I am sure!)

To you and yours I personally would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, may God Bless you, your friends and family this holiday season.

Now it’s your turn: Do you have any Thanksgiving Facts that are little known or some unique recipes to share. Please feel free to comment below and join the conversation.