Facts you didn’t know about Thanksgiving Day

As we all know, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Canada and the United States and it is set on the second Monday of October and fourth Thursday of November. 

What we also know is the history of the Pilgrims who celebrated good harvest in the New World, which ended today with the tradition of eating roasted turkey at a family feast. But what is unknown in this history? Here are some interesting facts, which you may or may not already know of.

Did you know that…

1.  The history of this famous holiday, is not so obvious. It is said, that 1863 is the year when the first celebrations took place, although for many scholars the first thanksgiving was constituted in 1621 at Plymouth Rock.

2.  United States presidents are pardoning the White House Thanksgiving turkey. This event is called Annual Turkey Ceremony, and has taken place since Abraham Lincoln reprieved a turkey named “Jack”.

3.  The well-known Christmas song “Jingle Bells” was previously composed for Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, it became such a stunner that it was also played during Christmas and quickly adapted to its tradition.

4.  Benjamin Franklin was such a huge fan of turkey, he thought it should become the national bird instead of the Bald Eagle. Here’s what he said: “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of a bad moral character … like those among men who live by … robbing. The turkey … is a much more respectable bird … a true original native of America.”

5.  Americans eat roughly 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

6.  What is quite surprising, the country which eats the most turkey in the world is not US, but… Israel.

7.  Because of all the above, Thanksgiving is also called “Turkey Day”.

Surprised? I hope by even just a few of unknown facts. What is a well-known practice, before we all start carving a turkey, we are obliged to say grace and give thanks for all the great fortunes in the last year.

Therefore having this chance, we wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Day in the loving company of your relatives and friends, and enjoyment of all tasty seasonal food!