My family has nothing against Turkey but we celebrated #Thanksgiving this year but having a Turkey-Free Thanksgiving. Charlie wanted Chicken Alfredo, Stuffed Breadsticks and Lemon Cake with Chocolate Icing.. Dinner was so good and less expensive and much easier to make. Giving us more time to spend with our family. As for #Christmas we will have a traditional Christmas dinner. Would you like want to join us?
Turkey-free Thanksgiving, is observed on the fourth Thursday in November, which is a part of Thanksgiving Day that offers those who don’t care for Turkey or Meat a different alternative. This year, Turkey-Free Thanksgiving will be celebrated on November 28th.
Turkey-Free Thanksgiving encourages people to try various recipes for their Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you dislike Turkey or you’re a Vegan or a Vegetarian, this holiday is for you. A Vegetarian Meal is a much healthier option for those wanting to work their dietary needs into the holiday. There are many delicious dishes to replace Turkey. Try Vegetarian recipes for Meatloaf, Pot Pie, Quiche, or Shepherd’s Pie. Which will have you looking forward to your Thanksgiving leftovers!
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated annually in many parts of the world. Thanksgiving began with the Pilgrims, a group of English families known as the Separatists, as they created divisions of Christianity that went against the Church of England.
The 102 passengers boarded the Mayflower in 1620 to find a home in the New World where they were able to freely practice their religion without fear of prosecution. They established the Plymouth Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The Pilgrims remained on the ship during their first Winter and suffered from scurvy and other diseases, with only half of them surviving. They left their ship when the weather warmed up. They were greeted by Native American tribes that taught them how to cultivate crops and catch Fish. Their harmonious relationship with the Native American tribes lasted over 50 years.
In 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest by inviting the neighboring tribes for a feast. This was the first Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims continued their tradition. The U.S. gained independence in 1776 after the American Revolution.
In 1789, George Washington called to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in which Americans celebrated their victory and expressed gratitude for their newfound independence. Abraham Lincoln supported this holiday and made the first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1863. It became an official holiday when Congress passed legislation in 1870.
Thanksgiving is now unrecognizable from when it first started. The meals were made up of Native American Spices and recipes. Turkey only became part of the holiday in the 19th Century because it was large enough for an entire family and could lay Eggs for the months leading up to Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims hosted this holiday to thank the Native Americans who saved their lives but now people celebrate to express gratitude for everything they have.
Turkey-free Thanksgiving Activities
- The most obvious way to celebrate this holiday is by choosing an alternative to Turkey. For a classic meal, try roast Chicken or Ham. For Vegetarians looking for a grandiose alternative, make a stuffed Pumpkin .
- Try various recipes and bring some around to offer Turkey-free alternatives for your friends and family. Share the recipe and enjoy the meal. Maybe the new tradition will catch on.
- There are so many delicious and exciting recipes to replace your main course. Search through the thousands of variations and try a few options ahead of Thanksgiving to ensure a hearty and appetizing dish.
Surprising Facts About Thanksgiving
- Did you know Thanksgiving was originally on the last Thursday in November, but Roosevelt celebrated Thanksgiving on November 23rd, 1939, to allow for more shopping days to help businesses during the Great Depression.
- Presidents had to make a Thanksgiving proclamation to decide on the holiday’s date, but Thomas Jefferson refused to set a day in 1801, finding that it contradicted the First Amendment.
- Although New York was the first State to officially celebrate this holiday in 1817, it took several more years for the tradition to become known in the American South.
- While it’s unknown what Meat was originally consumed on Thanksgiving, it was likely Venison, Duck, Goose, Oysters, Lobster, or several types of Fish, as well as Pumpkins and Cranberries, but not in the way we make them today.
- Sarah Josepha Hale, known for writing ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb,’ wrote to Abraham Lincoln for 17 years trying to persuade him to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, as she believed it would unify the nation and celebrate peace.
Why People Love Turkey-free Thanksgiving
There are so many alternatives much more delicious and nutritious than the classic Turkey dish. If you have the means and opportunity today experiment and try fun new recipes.
Turkey has health benefits, but it’s high in fat and cholesterol, not to mention that most of us focus on the carbs and forget to eat our share of Vegetables. Turkey-Free Thanksgiving offers us some alternatives to Meat and hearty dishes to fill up on.
A Turkey-free dinner is essential for Animal lovers that wish to remove Meat from their diet or offer up another food option as a compromise. It’s not only good for the Turkey, but it also helps the environment as factory farms produce 130 times as much excrement as the U.S. population. There are currently no laws on how to dispose of those excrements.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
