Thanksgiving Traditions and Myths

As with many holidays, Thanksgiving in America has evolved over time. The first recorded Thanksgiving meal may have been in the mid-1500s in Texas or Florida. Other countries celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving, complete with their own traditions, at different times of the year.

Here are a few myths, traditions, and myths about traditions surrounding Thanksgiving in America.

Presidential Pardon
Each Thanksgiving Day since 1947, the President of the United States has been presented with three turkeys by the National Turkey Federation. One live turkey is pardoned and gets to live the rest of its life on a quiet farm; the other two are dressed for the Thanksgiving meal. The practice is said to have informally begun with Abraham Lincoln, who granted a pardon to his son Tad's pet turkey.

Can Turkeys Fly?
Those who remember this famous scene from WKRP know that domesticated turkeys cannot fly. Wild turkeys, on the other hand, are smaller and more agile. They can reach speeds of up to 20-25 miles per hour on the ground and fly for short distances at speeds approaching 55 miles per hour. They also have better eyesight and hearing than their domestic counterparts.

Watching Football

• The newly formed American Intercollegiate Football Association held its first championship game on Thanksgiving Day in 1876. At the time, the sport resembled something between rugby and what we think of as football today. By the 1890s, more than 5,000 club, college and high school football games were taking place on Thanksgiving, and championship match-ups between schools like Princeton and Yale could draw up to 40,000 fans.
• The Detroit Lions of the American National Football League have hosted a game every Thanksgiving Day since 1934 (except 1939-1944, during World War II).
• The Dallas Cowboys have hosted a game every Thanksgiving Day since 1966 (except 1975 and 1977).