why is it traditional to eat turkey at christmas?

Answer 1

Traditionally Christmas food was the best food you could serve at that time of year. What ever food was the best tasting and freshest was also the Christmas food. Perhaps turkey was the best food people could get hold of where you live?

Answer 2

The elements of the "traditional" English Christmas dinner go back to early German forest people. Food was scarce by the end of December so you ate whatever you could find. You tended to go for large birds like geese and guineafowl.

What we now call guineafowl, used to be called turkeys. Our American colonies gave us the bigger, easier to catch, substitute that we now eat at Christmas.

We've only been eating birds for Christmas since we adopted German royalty and in particular when we all decided to copy Prince Albert. Before then the traditional Christmas meat was a boars head.

Answer 3

I didn't realize turkey was traditional at Christmas. We have Prime Rib, Ham, Lasagna, turkey or whatever we are in the mood to have that year. This year we did a Christmas brunch and then in the evening we did sandwiches from the left over prim rib roast at brunch.

Answer 4

I wish it wasn't, I can't stand Turkey, it's so dull! Anyway, here's some history...

"Feasting on geese has long been a tradition in the Old World, as is clear from ancient mythology. The prevalence of goose gods in numerous cultures attests to the ritual importance of geese and to the fact that these rituals date back to antiquity...The goose feast that came to characterize holiday celebrations in later times arise as a modern-day derivative of these ancient rites and sacrifices. People in Europe, Central Asia, North America, and North Africa customarily sacrified geese, particularly at the turn of the seasons. Like other migratory fowl, geese appeared and diappeared at crucial times in the yearly cycle, so eating them customairly accompanied ceremonial events in the solar and agricultural year. People have linked geese to the changing seasons for so long that originally the goose served as a sacrifice to the spirit of vegetation, in thanks for the harvest. After the goose was ceremonially killed, participants in the sacrifice feasted on its flesh in a ritual that they believed would ensure the regeneration of the Earth...Goose was served at the Celtic Samhain, or Halloween; the Germanic Yule, originally the first day of the new year; and Michaelmas, the ritual feast of the winter solstice. The Michaelmas feast is probably the most famous goose feast, apart from that at Christmas dinner...Turkeys, native to the New World, were more plentiful than geese during the period of early settlement. American settlers served turkey at Thanksgiving, making it the seasonal feast bird. In much of the Western world today, turkeys have replaced geese also at the Christmas feast; but for all practical purposes, these two birds share the same symbolism. Just as the people of the Old World connected geese to the sun, some of the North American tribes connected turkeys to the sun."

Answer 5

I dont know why its traditional. Its not very nice meat, usually dry even when its cooked well. And having a huge one isnt that great coz there are loads of leftovers. My mum usually makes turkey pie which is nicer than just eating it normally. I dont see why some people have ham though. Its not very christmassy.

Answer 6

It may be your tradition, but I don't know anyone else that does that. Most people have ham at Christmas, but our family cooks prime rib. It depends on your preference. That is what tradition is all about. Try creating a new tradition.

Answer 7

Many people eat something other than turkey for Christmas--particularly if they ate it for several days on and after Thanksgiving.

Answer 8

we actually had steak and crab legs. and my friends family had ham....so im not too sure that its a tradition like turkey on thanksgiving is.

Answer 9

we are having classic roast goose with oyster dressing. We tried serving babby and many of the travellers did not even favor to attempt it. Oh nicely, looks perfect to stay with custom.

Answer 10

You know what Ive been asking my family that for years and all I can come up with is that no one got enough of it for Thanksgiving lol