Myths & Facts About Turkey Day!
Thanksgiving is a uniquely North American holiday. But are those “facts” we learned in school really true? Is Plymouth Rock an actual, well, rock? Did the pilgrims really eat turkey and pumpkin pie? And who made the holiday “official”? The Buzz Log investigates some of the myths and realities of the beloved holiday.
Was there really a Plymouth Rock?
Kids are taught that when the pilgrims arrived in America, they landed on Plymouth Rock. Well, it might not have gone down like that. According to George Mason’s History News Network, the Plymouth Rock theory rests on the “dubious testimony” of one man. Historians argue that pilgrims first landed at Provincetown (not Plymouth). Still, one can visit Plymouth Rock if so inclined. According to the Plymouth Rock Foundation, the rock once weighed thousands of pounds. Over the years, the rock split and parts washed out to sea. Pilgrim Hall Museum writes that the world’s most famous rock weighs around several tons, a big drop since its heyday. Today, the remains of the rock are housed in a special building so tourists can gawk from a safe distance. Photos aren’t exactly awe-inspiring.
Did the first Thanksgiving have turkey?
Probably not. The Christian Science Monitor hosts an excellent article on the first Thanksgiving that happened back in 1621. According to the journals of several of the colonists, deer and large amounts of “fowl” were enjoyed by the pilgrims. However, instead of that being turkey, it’s more likely the hunters brought back duck or geese. So why did turkey become associated with the holiday? According to Slate, price may have been a chief reason. “Among the big birds, turkey was ideal for a fall feast. Turkeys born in the spring would spend about seven months eating insects and worms on the farm, growing to about 10 pounds by Thanksgiving.” Additionally, they were cheaper than geese. Good news for geese, bad news for the turkey.
Who made Thankgiving official?
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give it up for President Lincoln! That’s right, Honest Abe is responsible for making Thanksgiving an official holiday in 1863. National Geographic hosts a blog on some surprising facts about the holiday and notes that Lincoln may have been swayed by magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Historians say she was a big proponent of making Thanksgiving a national holiday. Mr. Lincoln apparently agreed.
