Why is turkey a Holiday staple? Dive into an age-old culinary tradition!
Turkey at Christmas is like the star of the holiday season, isn't it? That majestic dish that sits at the center of the table, surrounded by colorful trimmings, perfuming the house with its delicious aromas. But have you ever taken the time to wonder why this particular dish has become such an essential symbol of our Christmas meals? We explain it all here:
A poultry for a surprising journey...
Imagine: it was in 1492 that Christopher Columbus, having just arrived in America, discovered turkey. An encounter that changed the course of European culinary history! This unknown gallinaceous creature with its shimmering feathers did not exist in Europe, and it was not until this famous voyage that the bird made its appearance on our continent. The colonists, thinking they had landed in India, christened the beast the "Indian hen", a name which over time was simplified to "turkey". A minor geographical error, but a major culinary impact!
From rare luxury to popular tradition
At the time, turkey was a rare bird, almost a luxury. It replaced the more expensive and less accessible goose on Christmas tables. But why? Because it's bigger, meatier and therefore more economical. But that's not all! Its subtle yet delicious taste quickly seduced royal and then popular palates.
That's how it made its way onto the Old Continent, where interest grew rapidly. It is estimated that turkey began to be eaten in Europe around 1570, and that in France it made its first appearance at Charles IX's wedding banquet that same year.
Charles Dickens makes turkey a star
Where the turkey really takes off is in literature. In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens places it as a central figure in the feast, a symbol of generosity and sharing. His words still resonate through the ages, and the image of a stuffed turkey enthroned on a large Christmas table has become a fixture in the collective imagination. As if the turkey had received the writer's blessing to become the heart of our end-of-year feasts;)
How about a turkey for Christmas?
Today, turkey is the queen of many Christmas and Thanksgiving meals, although it can sometimes be replaced by other poultry such as capon or goose. But whatever the choice of poultry, the important thing is to nourish bodies and hearts, to recreate that magic that makes every Christmas a unique moment!
So, this year, why not make your turkey a tribute to this beautiful tradition, to this poultry that has crossed oceans and centuries to become this symbol of sharing and celebration? Get cooking, and let the magic of Holidays begin :-)
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