Thanksgiving Traditions Changing - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MTI · #1 11-20-2011, 04:59 PM

With T-Day coming on Thursday, have you noticed that your family Thanksgiving celebration has changed somewhat from what you had at your parents house? Turkey prepared differently, or not at all? New side dishes on the annual menu? How about the location?

Personally, I find that sweet potatoes have banished regular mashed potatoes to Thanksgivings gone by; stuffing/dressing has more sausage in it, and Pillsbury crescent rolls haven't been around in the last dozen years, replaced by soft sweet butter rolls and occasionally a foccacia topped with rosemary and cheese.

Ponder that while we remember the words of Benjamin Franklin letter to his daughter in 1784, expressing his dislike for the choice of the national bird.

The eagle is a bird of bad moral character. He watches the labor of the fishing hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him, and takes it from him.

Of the native born turkey . . .

He is besides, a little vain and silly a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.

suginami · #2 11-20-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Of the native born turkey . . .

He is besides, a little vain and silly a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.

Now that's funny. Ben Franklin sure had a sense of humor.

The only culinary change in my family's Thanksgiving tradition is a sushi / sashimi appetizer.

The Clk Man · #3 11-20-2011, 05:50 PM

We are having turkey, stuffing, mashed taters, gravy and pumpkin pie.

t walgamuth · #4 11-20-2011, 06:06 PM

We will be gathering at my sister's house in so bend. We will have all of the above plus sweet potatoe casserole, three kinds of salads, three kinds of beans and so forth. It is tough for a fellow to choose what to eat as there is too much of everything. I could do just dandy with just the traditional things clk man listed, plus some kind of cranberry concoction, just about any kind is fine with me.

Cheers!

The Clk Man · #5 11-20-2011, 06:09 PM

I forgot corn, gotta have corn.

MTI · #6 11-20-2011, 06:48 PM

I found the fully account of Franklin's letter:

Others object to the bald eagle as looking too much like a dindon, or turkey. For my own part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly; you may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk; and, when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him, and takes it from him.

With all this injustice he is never in good case;but, like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward; the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven all the kingbirds from our country; though exactly fit for that order of knights, which the French call Chevaliers d’Industrie.

I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first of the species seen in Europe, being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth.

He is, besides, (though a little vain and silly, it is true, but not the worse emblem for that,) a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on.

The Clk Man · #7 11-21-2011, 09:01 PM

Speaking of traditions, after I was grown and had my own family, my mother insisted on us going to her house every year. She always cooked stupid $hit like macaroni salad. After the second year, we started our own way of having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. And now that all of my children are grown and have their own families, we don't interfere with the way they want to do things.

btw my horses a$$ boss is making me work on Friday.