what has turkey to do with christmas?

Answer 1

each & every festival has its own specialities and eatables
............................. and the inventer of Christmas had selected turkey

Answer 2

Stories abound on how the first turkey landed in Britain.

Some say that six birds brought into the country by Yorkshireman William Strickland in 1526 were the first. He sold the birds which he got from American Indian traders on his travels for tuppence each in Bristol.

Another story goes that European explorers discovered the birds in Northern America around the time of Columbus and the Pilgrim Fathers.

A few were sent back to Europe and became a popular Christmas dish by about 1650. King George II was said to have kept about 3000 turkeys in the grounds of Richmond park to feed to friends at Christmas.

Yet another version of the arrival of turkey is that an officer of the sixteenth century explorer, Sebastian Cabot, introduced them to Europe on a return journey from the New World.

Answer 3

Too much intellectualizing on this one. What it has to do is we eat turkey for two reasons:
One, merchants have fed on our desire to share nice things with others...
Two... Turkeys are next down of the food chain, so they, like victims that we are with merchants, are next to be feasted upon.
Three... Most people, especially ladies are usually really already fed up with geese by the time Christmas rolls round... at least some male has been a sod and tried to give them a little goose early.
Four, they taste lovely and are not yet on an endangered species list.
The geese rejoice, Ducks quackup with myrth, and pigs take a holiday.
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
May everyone have a wickedly happy Christmas!

Answer 4

It's not a spin off from Thanksgiving at all.

It's because Turkey was (as was said above) a luxury dish in the past, so it became tradition. Christmas is a huge celebration, so why not eat a luxury banquet on such a day. It's big enough to feed a large family too.

Answer 5

Nothing, in fact the traditional English dish used to be goose. It's just a large bird which some people think looks good as the centrepiece of a holiday food spread. I have realised though that modern supermarket turkeys are pretty flavourless, so every year I go in search of something new and different. This year it's duck in champagne sauce with cepes mushrooms and bacon lardons...

Answer 6

Nothing really. Turkeys were regarded as a luxury product in the late Victorian period, when they were introduced into Britain. They were also large enough to feed a big family gathering, so were ideal for Christmas dinner.

Prior to the popularity of turkey, families would have goose, ham or spiced beef. A goose however, isn't large enough to feed a large family.

Having a goose myself this Christmas - yummy - as it's just me and him for dindin :)

Answer 7

'Eating turkey at Christmas is like nailing an egg to the cross' says Bishop.

Answer 8

It doesn't. People eat what they desire and they can afford. Most likely they will have Ham. Turkey is definitely for Thanksgiving. You don't want the same in such a short time. The Pilgrims I guess...

Answer 9

the turkey being eaten in the UK for Christmas is a spin off from the american thanksgiving when left overs were kept for the xmas meal during hard times traditionally in the UK its goose or roast beef for xmas even duck.........and in royal households swan used to be eaten

Answer 10

when the pilgrims arrived in America they shipped turkeys over with them. They eat it for thanksgiving and we eat it for Christmas.

Answer 11

I BET THE TURKEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS WELL.