why do people eat turkey on thanksgiving

People eat turkey on Thanksgiving mostly because it became the standard centerpiece in the 1800s, thanks to tradition, practicality, and a big boost from influential writers and early holiday promoters. Turkeys were plentiful in North America, large enough to feed a family, and less “useful alive” than cows or laying hens, which made them a convenient choice for a big annual feast.

Origin of the tradition

• Wild turkeys are native to North America, so early European settlers were familiar with them and could hunt them in large numbers for special meals.

• By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, turkey had become a popular choice for big communal dinners and celebrations, not just Thanksgiving.

1800s: How turkey became “the” Thanksgiving food

• In the mid‑1800s, writer and magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale heavily promoted a vision of Thanksgiving that centered on a roasted turkey, stuffing, and pies, and her widely read work made that menu feel “traditional.”

• When Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving in 1863, Hale’s version of the holiday meal helped lock turkey in as the iconic main dish across the country.

Practical reasons turkey stuck

• A single turkey is big enough to feed a large family or gathering and makes an impressive centerpiece in the middle of the table.

• On small farms, cows produced milk and hens laid eggs, but turkeys were raised mainly for meat, which made them the logical animal to slaughter for a once‑a‑year feast.

Myths vs. what happened at the “First Thanksgiving”

• Many people assume the 1621 Pilgrim–Wampanoag feast featured turkey as the star, but historical evidence points more strongly to venison (deer), waterfowl, and seafood; turkey might have been present but was not clearly the centerpiece.

• Later Americans romanticized that early feast, and over time the story was retold in a way that put turkey front and center, helping justify the already‑popular turkey dinner as “historical.”

Today’s culture and trends

• Today, about 9 in 10 Americans report eating turkey on Thanksgiving, even though some families now swap in ham, roast beef, or plant‑based roasts, or add regional dishes alongside the turkey.

• Modern discussions on forums and social media often joke that many people do not love the taste of turkey itself, but keep cooking it anyway because it feels deeply tied to family tradition and the “look” of Thanksgiving.

TL;DR: People eat turkey on Thanksgiving because it became the classic, nationally promoted holiday centerpiece in the 1800s, backed by writers like Sarah Josepha Hale, and it made practical sense: turkeys were native, plentiful, big, and easy to dedicate to a once‑a‑year feast. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.