When Turkey Became the Protagonist of Thanksgiving

From the first harvest feast in 1621 to Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation during the Civil War, the Thanksgiving table has evolved through history and symbolism. Among all its traditions, one stood out and became the heart of the celebration: the turkey.

The origins of an American tradition

The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 in Plymouth, New England, when English settlers and members of the Wampanoag people gathered to celebrate the harvest. Historical accounts, such as that of colonist Edward Winslow, mention “fowle,” a general term for wild birds. They may have been ducks, geese, or wild turkeys, but there is no exact record. At that first table, the symbol was sharing, not the dish itself.

From a wild bird to a symbol of abundance

Over the following centuries, turkey began to take center stage. Native to North America, it was abundant, large enough to feed entire families, and easy to raise. Unlike chickens, turkeys did not produce eggs or milk, which made them ideal for special occasions. They naturally became the bird of choice for autumn feasts and eventually for the Thanksgiving table.

Sarah Josepha Hale: the woman who wrote the tradition

The turkey’s rise to prominence owes much to Sarah Josepha Hale, writer and editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, who lived in Newport, New Hampshire.For more than fifteen years, Hale campaigned to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. In her essays, she described the ideal American feast, always featuring a roasted turkey at the center of the table.In 1863, she wrote directly to President Abraham Lincoln, urging him to declare an official day of gratitude for the nation.

Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation and the birth of a national holiday

That same year, in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln sought symbols of unity and healing.Inspired by Hale’s letter, he proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. In his address, he spoke of gratitude, harvest, and renewal for a wounded country. It was then that turkey left the fields and entered history, becoming the protagonist of an America reunited around one table.

From colonial tables to modern celebrations

After Lincoln’s proclamation, Thanksgiving grew stronger as a family ritual. By the late nineteenth century, cookbooks and illustrated magazines had cemented the roasted turkey as the true centerpiece of the celebration. In the twentieth century, its image dominated advertising campaigns, product labels, and even the White House, where the traditional turkey pardon became a national event.Today, it is nearly impossible to imagine Thanksgiving without it.

A Maine touch on tradition

In Maine, autumn arrives with golden light and deep, earthy flavors. Among falling leaves and glowing fires, Thanksgiving can take on new tones. A spoonful of Planet Naskeag Wild Pickled Blueberries in your turkey sauce adds a delicate contrast of acidity and sweetness, a balance of sea and forest, summer and fall.It is a way to preserve time itself and to celebrate flavor with the same reverence once reserved for the harvest.