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#ExpertSpotlight: Why Do We Eat Turkey at Thanksgiving?

The Surprisingly Strange, Delicious History Behind the Bird

Nov 25, 2025

3 min


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Thanksgiving is all about tradition — family gatherings, fall colours, and the annual moment where someone at the table says, “I swear the turkey was bigger last year.”

But why this bird? Why not ham, roast beef, or something simpler that doesn't require hours of basting, brining, and YouTube tutorials from chefs with suspiciously perfect kitchens?


It turns out, the turkey’s rise to holiday fame is a tale packed with practicality, politics, early marketing, and a few misconceptions that have stuck around longer than the leftovers.


Turkey: The Accidental Icon


While popular myth suggests the Pilgrims dined on turkey in 1621, historical accounts are vague. They definitely ate wild fowl — which could’ve been turkey, duck, or goose. But practical realities sealed the deal later on:


Turkeys were plentiful: In the 1800s, wild turkeys roamed North America in massive numbers. They were big, available, and cheaper to raise than cows or pigs.


Big bird = big table: A turkey could feed a crowd without sacrificing dairy-producing animals. Practicality wins again.


Seasonal timing: Turkeys matured in the fall, just in time for an annual feast. Nature set the menu before Pinterest ever could.


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Sarah Josepha Hale: The 19th-Century Queen of Thanksgiving


One of the biggest reasons turkey ended up on the national table? A woman named Sarah Josepha Hale — journalist, author, and relentless advocate for making Thanksgiving a national holiday.


Hale spent decades campaigning, writing hundreds of letters, and filling her magazine with Thanksgiving recipes (including turkey). When Abraham Lincoln finally proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving in 1863, Hale’s influence helped cement turkey as the centrepiece.


In other words:

The “Mother of Thanksgiving” was also the Mother of Modern Turkey Marketing.


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The Power of Tradition (and Leftovers)


By the 20th century, turkey was the default. Norman Rockwell painted it. Grocery stores promoted it. Manufacturers created special roasting pans for it. And millions of families quietly wondered whether it was worth the effort.


Yet the turkey holds its place because:


  • It symbolizes abundance
  • It satisfies enough people to avoid mutiny
  • Its leftovers power the real Thanksgiving tradition: sandwiches


Great Story Angles for Journalists


  • The forgotten role of Sarah Josepha Hale — the woman who shaped a national holiday
  • How turkeys became big business — and how Thanksgiving drives Canada/U.S. poultry economics
  • Turkey myths vs. facts — no, tryptophan alone doesn’t knock you out
  • How immigrant communities reinterpret Thanksgiving menus
  • What the “perfect” turkey says about North American food culture


Why It Matters Today


Thanksgiving remains a cultural anchor — a moment where millions gather over a shared meal whose main dish has become iconic, symbolic, and occasionally overcooked.


Understanding how turkey became the star of the table opens conversations about food history, national identity, environmental sustainability, cultural adaptation, and of course… the annual debate over stuffing inside or outside the bird.


For journalists exploring food history, cultural traditions, or holiday trends, culinary experts on ExpertFile can provide deeper context, historical insight, and delicious perspectives to bring your stories to life.


Find your expert here: www.expertfile.com

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