Turkey Day Facts
Thanksgiving Day Is On The Way!
Thursday, November 27 is Thanksgiving Day
Do you have plans for Thanksgiving Day this year? With the price of gas dropping down to a cost not seen for three years, early reports from AAA say travel will once again be up. People are discovering that even in the midst of shaky economic times, with the price of gas dropping, now is a good time to spend with family. Of course Thanksgiving also signals the start of the holiday season which takes us right through to the New Year. The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, will soon be upon us and many people will hit the stores in search of those early holiday specials.
What exactly does Black Friday mean?
Really, it’s not a bad thing. Black Friday got it’s name because it marks the one day when retailers will determine if they will actually get out of the red into the black for Christmas holiday sales. Of course it comes on the heels of Thanksgiving Day when people stuff themselves with turkey, and then stuff themselves with sales the following day.
Little Known Turkey Facts
The National Turkey Federation recently released a list of interesting facts about the gobblers that will end up on many tables later this week.
- Approximately 46 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, with another 22 million set to be scarfed down at Christmas.
- When buying a whole turkey, make sure to buy at least one pound of uncooked turkey per person. This will provide enough for your meal, as well as plenty of leftovers.
- A turkey bought at Thanksgiving weighs an average of 15 pounds. (We just bought an 18 pound turkey.)
- Turkey is the healthiest protein source you can find. A three-ounce serving of cooked skinless turkey has zero saturated fat, as well as fewer calories from fat and eight percent more protein than chicken.
- While many people believe turkey causes them to be sleeping, after eating Thanksgiving dinner, research has found the carbohydrate-rich meals that accompany the turkey may cause the drowsiness, by increasing the number of tryptophans in the brain.
- Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has given the President a live turkey and two dressed turkeys to help celebrate Thanksgiving.
- President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
- Benjamin Franklin, who proposed the turkey as the official United States bird, was disappointed when the bald eagle was chosen instead.
- Minnesota produces the most turkeys in the country. North Carolina is second.
By the way, if you’d like to get a daily dose of little known facts like this every day, be sure to check out my friends Useless Tidbits blog. I’m not sure where he finds all the information he does, but I know I enjoy reading the tidbits everyday!
Thanksgiving Plans
So, what are you plans for Thanksgiving? As for us, my parents have been coming down from Canada for a visit during Thanksgiving week for a number of years. It’s pretty much the final run down here before a lot of snow flies making traveling a little harder. Also, since we don’t get up to Canada for Christmas, we also put up the Christmas tree and other decorations on Thanksgiving Day so we can do it as a family. It’s always a lot of fun.
Feel free to leave me a comment here telling me, and others who read this post, what your Thanksgiving plans are. I’d love to hear from you!
Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus
