Advent day 12.. why do we eat Turkey at Christmas? 

See advent day 11 here

More than 10 million Turkeys are eaten at Christmas in the UK but why? 

Turkeys are native to the Americas so probably were brought over from the Spanish who had brought them over from the Aztec empire. Apparently William Strickland a Yorkshire merchant claims he was the first to bring turkeys over, but that hasn't been proven. Before Turkey was eaten for Christmas people would eat boar, goose or even peacocks for their festive dinner.  When Turkeys were brought to Britain and were seen as an exotic delicacy. Henry VIII was the first monarch to eat Turkey for Christmas.

In the 19th Century there was a North/South divide, the South would have a goose for their Christmas dinner and the North would most likely have roast beef. Although families would get whatever they could afford, even a rabbit if they had too. In a Christmas Carol Scrooge sends the Cratchit family a turkey to replace their goose, this cultural reference further increased the want for Turkey at Christmas. 

In the 1930's Turkey would still cost a family a weeks wages (compared to today where it would cost the average person 1.7 hours wages) 

It wasn't until after WW2 when falling prices and the introduction of the fridge that Turkey became a key part of the Christmas dinner.

Did you know most Geese and Turkeys were/are reared in East Anglia and before the introduction of the railways, thousands of flocks were walked to London along what is now the A12. The Norfolk farmers who transported them dipped the birds feet in tar and sand to create little walking 'wellies' for them as the journey to London could take up to 2 months. 

Do you eat Turkey at Christmas? 

Comment below! 

Rosie x