This Holidays

Writen by Gail Leino

As far as possible get together celebrations go there are few that are as much fun as Thanksgiving AKA Turkey Day. The image of the turkey and its typical use as an expected entrée are so universal that Turkey Day is an alternate name for the legal holiday.

It is said by historians that there were a number of wild game animals used in the first Thanksgiving celebration between the local indigenous population and America's newly arrived pilgrims. The reason for the turkey becoming the ubiquitous symbol of the holiday is a matter of much conjecture.

Recently the popularity of variants of the common theme of turkey has become more popular on the American table at Thanksgiving AKA Turkey Day. Among these are pastry wrapped turkey, turkey pate, and turducken the complicated Cajun dish. This last involves deboning a turkey, duck and chicken then stuffing one inside the other and preparing as a tightly pressed meat. This has become popular as well as alternate turkey preparations like deep frying, smoking and barbequing. All are attempts to combat the boredom of similar celebrations year after year while still sticking loosely to tradition. It's a fine line between brilliant and bust so exotic methods are often best left to chefs.

Thanksgiving AKA Turkey Day is not likely to loose it's steam soon either although its traditions are changing. Many grocery's and specialty catalogues now offer fully prepared meals which only require warming for a reasonable package price. These aren't half bad. The shopping is quicker and the turkey is never under cooked. Some of these include dinner rolls, side dishes and desert. Often there is a choice of alternate meats for instance ham or duckling. Sometimes there are different pies or vegetable options. This package home warmed meal has become very popular and needs to be ordered early.