Millions of turkeys are poised to be prepared, cooked and consumed today as the UK revels in Christmas celebrations.
The 25th of December has finally arrived, with many of us eagerly awaiting what is arguably the most anticipated meal of the year.
A proper Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without all the trimmings and, naturally, a turkey taking centre stage. Every Christmas, millions of turkeys are eaten across the nation, but it hasn’t always been this way.
Let’s delve into why we eat turkey at Christmas and the roots of this tradition. Before the first turkey landed on UK shores in the mid-1500s, beef and goose were the stars of traditional Christmas dinners.
However, many farmers found that consuming turkey was more practical, freeing up cows and chickens for milk and egg production. Some might think that we Brits took a leaf out of North Americans’ book by eating turkey during Thanksgiving, but this isn’t true.
It was Henry VIII who put turkeys on the map, as it was after witnessing the King indulge at Christmas that many others followed his lead. Henry traded his usual goose for a Norfolk Black bird, and by 1573, turkey was commonly served, before its popularity soared even further throughout England in the 17th century, reports Wales Online.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/real-reason-eat-turkey-christmas-30657927