Thanksgiving Day features many traditions. This year, we wanted to share some information on this popular American holiday. You might like to pass on some of these facts while you’re sitting at the table during your Thanksgiving feast. If you think you know everything about Thanksgiving, think again!
Turkey Time
Did you know the first Thanksgiving might not have included turkey? Historians say the pilgrims likely ate corn, geese, and pumpkin. Good thing we don’t have a yearly goose feast, right? Nowadays, about 690 million pounds of turkey are consumed during Thanksgiving, which amounts to about 46 million turkeys. Now, that’s a lot of birds.
Tasty Treats
Have you ever wondered why we perennially eat the same foods during our annual Thanksgiving Day feast? There’s a rationale behind this.
One common dish you may see on the table this year is green bean casserole. This item became popular about 50 years ago when Campbell Soup Company decided to create an annual holiday cookbook. Little did the company know it would be selling around $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup every year for this recipe that it made into a tradition.
Another familiar item you may notice on the table every year is cranberry sauce. The pilgrims might not have enjoyed the luxury of this sugary side dish, but Americans indulge in this sweet treat today. Did you know about 30 percent of all cranberries produced in the U.S each year are consumed on Thanksgiving Day? That’s about 750 million pounds of fruit!
Cranberries are good source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, vitamin E, vitamin K, copper, and pantothenic acid. So don’t feel too guilty consuming this sweet dish.
Parade Celebrations
Nearly 50 million Americans watch the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This tradition started in 1924 when Macy’s expanded its New York flagship store and wanted to capture the attention of those preparing to shop for the Christmas season.
The first parade featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo, but they grew tired after the six-mile excursion and began to frighten spectators. The huge floating balloons you see these days replaced the live animals and provided a new, less dicey form of entertainment.
Thanksgiving may involve turkey feasts, yummy treats, and parades, but the main focus should be on spending quality time with the ones you love. However you choose to spend your Thanksgiving Day, our team wishes you a happy and healthy holiday!
