How did turkey become the iconic food of Thanksgiving?

How did turkey become the iconic food of Thanksgiving?

This question should start with how Thanksgiving came about.

The origin of Thanksgiving can be traced back to the beginning of American history. /kloc-At the beginning of the 7th century, the English Puritans were persecuted, and a group of English Puritans could not bear religious persecution. 1In September, 620, they boarded the sailboat may flower, sailed to the "New World" America just discovered by Columbus, and arrived at Plymouth Port in the United States on February 26th, 65438. In the winter at the turn of 1620 and 162 1, only 50 Puritans survived in 102 because of the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, scurvy, hunger and cold. Of course, this voyage is famous in history because of the signing of the Mayflower Convention, which is the first political contract document in American history and is called the American birth certificate.

It's cold winter now, and they come to a strange place, lacking clothes and food, and the harsh environment threatens their lives. At this critical moment, the local Wampanoag Indians generously took out the corn and potatoes stored for the winter and gave them the wild ducks and turkeys they hunted. Indians also taught them to grow corn and pumpkins and raise turkeys. With the help of Indians, these new immigrants began to adapt to life in this land. With the help of Indians, the immigrants finally got a bumper harvest. According to religious traditions and customs, immigrants set the harvest day as Thanksgiving Day, and invited indigenous people to celebrate this festival to thank their gifts. This is the origin of the original Thanksgiving.

At first, there was no fixed date for Thanksgiving Day, which was decided temporarily by American states. 1789, President Washington officially stipulated165438+1October 26th as the Thanksgiving Day celebrated throughout the country. However, for a long time, each state has set a holiday date according to its own situation. It was not until 1863 after the independence of the United States that President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. 194 1 year, in order to extend the Christmas shopping season and stimulate the economy, President Roosevelt signed a congressional resolution declaring the fourth Thursday of 1 1 year as Thanksgiving Day.

Why choose turkey as Thanksgiving food?

Because when the colonists first came to this land in the United States, turkey was the wildest animal and the easiest food to get, and the British colonists used turkey to entertain Indians as a thank-you food, so this tradition gradually passed down and is now the main course on the Thanksgiving table.

Indians' Cognition of Thanksgiving Day

Americans think Thanksgiving is a holiday to thank Indians, but Indians, as the original owners, hate Americans very much.

Indians told the real situation at that time: the arrival of Europeans brought plague to America and made Indians die like flies. For example, the Pecott tribe in Connecticut (a branch of Indians) now had 8,000 people when Europeans arrived. By 1637, only 1500 people were left. Also in 1637, on May 26th, European immigrants clashed with Pecot Indians. Indian villages were burned down and more than 700 Pecott Indians were killed by European settlers.

European immigrants who participated in the massacre at that time thanked God for giving them great help and enabling them to win quickly. So in that year, 1637, john winthrop, then governor of Massachusetts, said: This day should be a day to celebrate, and thank God for letting them conquer the Pecots.

In this way, the official "Thanksgiving Day" of European immigrants was born. This day is also considered a shameful day by Indians, and they will not celebrate this festival.