PARDONING THE TURKEY
Did
you know that …. ?
Each year the President of the United States pardons
a turkey before Thanksgiving at a White House ceremony.
The tradition's origin is uncertain. One story claims that Harry
Truman pardoned a turkey in 1947, but the Truman Library has
been unable to find any evidence for this. Another claims that the tradition
dates back to Abraham Lincoln pardoning his son Tad's
pet turkey. Both of these stories have been quoted in recent presidential
speeches.
What's certain is that for many years a turkey—and its alternate—are
pardoned each year. An alternate is chosen just in case the first bird
is unable to perform its duties.
For the last fifteen years, the turkeys have been given to Kidwell Farm,
a petting zoo at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia. The turkeys would
receive a last minute pardon before arriving, and were then led to their
new home at the Turkey Barn after enduring a turkey "roast"
full of poultry humour and history.
In
2005, however, the turkeys flew to Disneyland in California where they
served as honorary grand marshals for Disneyland's Thanksgiving
Day parade. After that, they will spend the rest of their lives
at a Disneyland ranch. A spot in sunny Disneyland somehow seems immensely
preferable to a place called Frying Pan Park if you happen to be a turkey
who has just escaped from becoming the main course of someone's Thanksgiving
feast.
In 2005, President Bush gave two turkeys named Marshmallow
and Yam a last-minute reprieve. The two turkeys hail
from Henning, Minnesota. For the third time, the American public was
allowed to vote for the turkeys' names on the White House web site.
2004's turkeys were named Biscuit and Gravy,
and in 2003, Stars and Stripes.
If you feel like listening to some music related to ‘Thanksgiving Day’, click HERE. Turn up the speakers and enjoy the holiday spirit !!!
ACTIVITY
How
many things can you remember about THANKSGIVING
DAY ? (taken from http://wilstar.com/holidays/thanksqz.htm)