When people think of Thanksgiving, most people think of turkey. Whether alive or on a plate in the center of the table, turkey has been a staple in Thanksgiving culture for a long time.
However, as times change and families continue to gather around the table, a crucial question remains: do people eat turkey because they like how it tastes, or is it to keep the tradition going through generations?
When we think about Thanksgiving dinner, we look at the meal between the Pilgrim settlers from the Plymouth colony and the Wampanoag people.
The actual popularization of the turkey can be traced to a chapter of Sarah Josepha Jale’s Northwood, a novel written in 1827. The chapter describes what a proper New England Thanksgiving looked like, which included a turkey at the head of the table.
Some people also credit the popularization of the turkey to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens due to its important, prizewinning turkey.
From there, it was as simple as time passing. Ideas and concepts fused, giving rise to the traditions that grace many tables today.
However, not every table follows this tradition. Recently, people have chosen to deviate from the customary presence of turkey on the table.
Some people choose to eat Chicken due to its ability to be adapted and its familiar taste and texture.
Seafood enthusiasts have found their way to the Thanksgiving table with salmon and other assorted seafood.
Roasted vegetables, especially hearty vegetables like squash, have become a Turkey replacement for vegetarians and vegans alike.
These replacements cater to diverse tastes and dietary customs. It allows them to choose and create their own Thanksgiving experience. This, in turn, can create new traditions for families to follow.
The diversity in modern Thanksgiving meals is proof that traditions and cultures honored by time persevere alongside new traditions that are just beginning to emerge and blossom.
Whether you eat turkey or opt for a replacement from land, air, or sea, Thanksgiving shows evolution and diversity at its peak. So do you eat turkey because you like it or because it’s tradition? That’s a choice that only you can decide.
