Does The Pardoned Turkey Get Eaten?
No, as per tradition, the pardoned turkey by the President of the United States of America usually never gets eaten by anyone.
This interesting tradition started during the presidency of John F Kennedy.
In 1963, President John F Kennedy spared the life of a turkey presented to him intending for dinner on Thanksgiving day.
Kennedy just let the turkey stay alive saying “We’ll just let this one grow”.
Since then, pardoning turkey by the United States President became a fun tradition at the Thanksgiving celebration.
Who First Pardoned A Turkey?
Although became popular during the days of John F Kennedy, originally it was started in the days of Abraham Lincoln.
A White House reporter named Noah Brooks once said that in 1863, President Lincoln spared a turkey’s life because of the request of his youngest son Tad.
Tad requested his father to pardon the turkey’s life given to Lincoln for Thanksgiving dinner. It is said that later Tad kept the bird as his pet.
However, it is also said that Lincoln later planned it for Christmas dinner.
When It Was Officially Started Pardoning Turkey?
It started on November 14th, 1989.
In the year, the United States 41st President George H. W. Bush officially granted a presidential pardon to a turkey. However, he gave no name to the bird.
Present-day, each year, when the US presidents participate in the program, they often name their birds’ various names.
For example, in 2021 President Joe Biden pardoned two turkeys, named Peanut Butter and Jelly.
In 2004, George W. Bush, granted clemency to two birds named Biscuits and Gravy.
[Did You Know? Although Turkey Is The Main Decoration On Thanksgiving Dinner Table, Still It Is Unknown When & How This Tradition Began. It Is Said That Earlier, Goose Was The Main Decoration In Thanksgiving Dinner, Instead of Turkey]
