Discover the fascinating origins of the Christmas turkey tradition
London: Millions of turkeys are getting ready to be cooked and enjoyed today as the UK celebrates Christmas. December 25 is finally here, and many of us can’t wait for that big festive meal.
You really can’t have a proper Christmas dinner without all the sides and, of course, turkey taking the spotlight. Every year, millions of turkeys are eaten across the country, but it wasn’t always like this.
So, why do we eat turkey at Christmas? Let’s dive into the history. Before turkeys made their way to the UK in the mid-1500s, people usually feasted on beef and goose during the holidays.
Interestingly, farmers found that turkey was a more practical choice. It allowed them to keep cows and chickens for milk and eggs. Some folks think we got the idea from North Americans celebrating Thanksgiving, but that’s not quite right.
It was actually Henry VIII who made turkey popular. After he enjoyed a turkey feast at Christmas, many others decided to follow his lead. He swapped his usual goose for a Norfolk Black bird, and by 1573, turkey was a common dish. It really took off in popularity throughout England in the 17th century.