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Author: Asante Riveira

So how much do you know about the first Thanksgiving and all the folks who were part of it? How much do you know about the original history and traditions of the holiday? How about the symbolism behind many of the common items associated with Thanksgiving? Oh, you think you know a lot do you? Well, would you be willing to put that knowledge to the test? No, not on any friendly wager but in the excellent Thanksgiving printable game called This and That Thanksgiving history game. Yes, you can really see if you knowledge on the subject is up to par or if any of your friends or family can match (or exceed) your knowledge. Yup, you can turn this Thanksgiving into a fun test of wits and the This and That Thanksgiving History game is the way to do it.

Some may find it odd to play a Thanksgiving themed game and if you ask them why they might not even have a response. Part of the reason they act this way is that sometimes the celebration of Thanksgiving is somewhat downplayed. Part of the reason for Thanksgiving being a holiday that most people are not familiar with is that it is a brief holiday that is sandwiched in between Halloween and Christmas. With Christmas shopping sometimes being pushed before Thanksgiving, the turkey day holiday can be somewhat marginalized. This has a tendency to cut into the learning about the holiday. Well, if you want to sharpen up your skills then this game is definitely one you will enjoy.

Author: Sean Carter

Thanksgiving parades, just like football, turkey and the pumpkin pie, can’t be done away with if we are talking Thanksgiving ! Elaborate parades featuring huge floats, musical extravaganza and star-studded entertainment shows on Thanksgiving are regular features of the Thanksgiving holiday and are marked by great pomp and grandeur. It has its origins in the early 20th century and is fashioned to give the festive frenzy a good lift in the hearts of young and old. The Thanksgiving parades are indeed a spectacle for whoever manages to catch sight of one ! Through years now, these street shows and parades of Thanksgiving have become a tradition and are integral to this holiday, held on the fourth Thursday in November.

There’s no precise documentation of the origin of the Thanksgiving parades. In all probabilities, Thanksgiving parades had their first observance in the year President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as an official holiday. In the context of the Union achievements of the 1863 summer, it’s no wonder that an officially declared occasion (more importantly declared by the then President) would have befitting celebrations. Hence parades became a part of the day. But while the military band or uniformed men featured in earlier Thanksgiving parades, today’s parades of Thanksgiving mainly consist of musical extravaganza and entertainment shows. Another view is that the first parade of Thanksgiving originated in Philadelphia. It’s known as Gimbel’s Thanksgiving Parade and is considered to be the first parade of Thanksgiving in the nation’s history. The famous American store called Gimbel’s kicked off the parade under its name to make a mark. Many other brands followed suit and started holding Thanksgiving parades soon after. And these numerous Thanksgiving parades are telecast on television throughout the United States on Thanksgiving.

Wherever the start of Thanksgiving parades, it was just a matter of years that the significance and tradition of holding parades spread from one corner of the nation to another. Parades are integral to the American culture and the nation has spectacular parades for all the major holidays of the year. Mostly Thanksgiving parades have family-oriented themes and project the message of warmth and thankfulness of the holiday. Also kept in mind is the aspect of making the children happy and make all others smile. So colorful cutouts, huge balloons and amusing floats are there in Thanksgiving parades almost always. The sole aim of Thanksgiving parades is to instill the spirit of festivity in the hearts of the spectators. People feel all gingered up to have a wonderfully warm Thanksgiving Day, wishing each other a happy Thanksgiving and cheering for a good harvest. Many families traditionally set aside a time on Thanksgiving to go and watch Thanksgiving parades. All States in the US hold magnificent parades on Thanksgiving and so, there’s no dearth of Thanksgiving parades to hit on the fourth Thursday in November, that is, the Thanksgiving Day.

Author: Michele Dupper

Images of big, beautiful turkeys with colorful plumage and tail feathers are everywhere during the Thanksgiving holiday season. For many of us, eating a turkey with the family on this holiday is a time honored tradition and in some special way makes us feel very connected to our ancestors. However, the turkeys that were most likely served on this holiday in the past were quite different than the majority served today. In fact, if you are under 50, you have probably never even tasted one of these turkeys. Now referred to as heritage turkeys, they are the distant relatives of the common Broad-Breasted White industrial breed of turkeys now sold in 99% of grocery stores and until very recently they were almost extinct.

Our modern commercial turkeys were popularized by poultry processors in the 1960’s because of their large quantities of white meat, the preference of most Americans. They were also desirable because of their white feathers which do not discolor their skin. Unfortunately, to promote the meat development, their bodies and growth rates have been altered so most of them are full of growth supplements as well as antibiotics. They now have unnaturally large breasts, short breast bones and short legs. The majority of them are so large that their legs cannot support their own weight and they are not able to walk. They must be bred through artificial insemination because they are no longer able to breed naturally. So, basically, these birds just sit in one place and eat until they reach their market weight so that we may enjoy their tender meat.

On the contrary, heritage turkeys are raised dining on fresh grass and insects. They walk, fly, breed, raise their own chicks and even help control farmer’s pest problems. They are prized for their flavor, texture and beautiful plumage. The heritage breeds of turkeys are the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, Narragansett and White Holland. Raising heritage turkeys is more time consuming and costly, but it preserves genetic variety and keeps alive an American culinary tradition that dates back to the first years of English settlement. According to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, turkeys must meet all of the following criteria to qualify as a heritage turkey:

1. Naturally mating: must be reproduced and genetically maintained through natural mating, with expected fertility rates of 70-80%. This means that turkeys marketed as “heritage” must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock.

2. Long productive outdoor lifespan: must have a long productive lifespan. Breeding hens are commonly productive for 5-7 years and breeding toms for 3-5 years. They must also have a genetic ability to withstand the environmental rigors of outdoor production systems.

3. Slow growth rate: must have a slow to moderate rate of growth. Today’s heritage turkeys reach a marketable weight in about 28 weeks, giving the birds time to develop a strong skeletal structure and healthy organs prior to building muscle mass. This growth rate is identical to that of the commercial varieties of the first half of the 20th century.

Raising the turkeys in this way is not only more humane, but also results in a much more flavorful bird. There are four factors that influence flavor in animals - the fundamental underlying flavor of its meat, its age, how it was raised, and what it ate. Older animals have more flavor than younger ones and heritage turkeys are allowed to grow at a much slower rate, about twice as long, than the commercialized Broad-Breasted White. The more an animal moves around, the more interesting its flavor. Obviously, turkeys raised on a pasture get much more exercise than those sitting in buildings unable to walk. Turkeys that have a diet of green grass, plants, and insects have a deeper taste than birds fed exclusively a grain diet.

In addition to great flavor, roasting a heritage turkey to perfection is much easier than the industrialized white. Since they have smaller breasts there is a better balance between the dark and white meat so the white meat cooks quicker than the dark meat and there is no need to cover the breast with foil to keep it from drying out while the rest of the bird cooks. If the breast is covered during roasting, it should be done with oiled parchment paper, not foil, which is then removed 30 minutes before the turkey is finished roasting. Heritage turkeys are leaner and smaller so fast cooking at high temperatures is a better method than slow roasting all day long. They should be cooked at 425-450 degrees F until the internal temperature reaches 140-150 degrees F. Remember not to let the tip of the thermometer touch the bone. (Note: This is different than the USDA recommendation of 160F-180F, but these temperatures will dry out a heritage turkey. Heritage birds are freer of disease and bacteria so they do not need extreme temperatures to make them safe for consumption.) The reduced cooking time will not allow stuffing to become fully cooked so cook the stuffing first and place inside the turkey before roasting. Alternatively, you can experiment with adding a piece of quartered fruit like an orange or an apple inside the turkey instead of stuffing. You can also try adding butter or oil under the breast skin to add flavor and moisture during roasting. As always, bring the bird to room temperature before cooking and be sure to let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.

Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and Slow Food USA, heritage turkeys are increasing in popularity, but in the late 1990’s they were on the brink of extinction. They realized that we must eat them to save them because the more we eat, the more there will be. By continuing to eat heritage turkeys and supporting the breeders the quality of the birds will only improve.

Authro: Linda Dowdy

Many are beating the Christmas card and traditional holiday cards rush by sending Thanksgiving cards instead. Gaining in popularity, Thanksgiving cards are unexpected greetings perfect for business or personal use. Here are 5 reasons why you may want to consider sending Thanksgiving cards this year.

1) Unexpected. Many expect to receive Christmas cards or the traditional seasonal greetings in December but Thanksgiving cards received in early November are unexpected surprises. Your card will not get lost in the mounds of holiday mail but will receive special attention and praise. Your unexpected thoughtful gesture will be much appreciated.

2) Thanks. A Thanksgiving card not only sends wishes for a happy Thanksgiving Day but is also an opportunity to send your thanks for the year that is rapidly coming to an end. By sending Thanksgiving cards you are saying Thanks for your friendship, loyalty and business over the past year. A Thanksgiving card is the perfect opportunity to send your message of business appreciation and a great time to strengthen your business partnerships.

3) Early. By sending your annual greeting early in the form of Thanksgiving cards, you are appearing to be organized and proactive. With all the end of the year responsibilities you and your business experience, you can get the holiday cards list completed with cards mailed well in advance of the last minute rush. Place your order now for a great selection and additional savings.

4) Long lasting. When your Thanksgiving card arrives ahead of the annual greeting card rush, it will be enjoyed and put on display much longer. A greeting in lovely fall colors will stand out from the red and green seasonal greetings for a unique presentation that ushers in the holiday season with warm hearted thanks.

5) Non-denominational. There is always a question of correctness when deciding to send Christmas cards or seasonal greetings cards. To avoid the possibility of offending anyone, Thanksgiving cards are the perfect solutions. Every American can appreciate the message that Thanksgiving brings. Your heartfelt message of thanks will be welcomed by friends, customers and business associates alike.