Have you ever wondered why we eat turkey at Thanksgiving?
Most Americans know the story about the Puritan Pilgrims who came aboard the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth in 1620. They nearly starved to death but were helped by the Wampanoag tribe. The next fall they held a food-filled autumn fest celebrating their friendship and thanking God – for their survival.
It was quite natural for the pilgrims to hold such a celebration, as autumn harvest feasts had been celebrated in Europe since time immemorial. But have you ever wondered why a large fowl served as the centerpiece?
Although the protestant Puritans had tried to eliminate all Catholicism, they could not divest themselves of their deep Catholic cultural roots. Christendom's autumn festival centered about the great feast of St. Martin's Day on November 11. And this great saint provides the connection to the large fowl. [Note: Learn about the celebration and penance of Martinmass in an article by Matthew Plese.]
St. Martin was living the life of a hermit in a secluded forest. People far and wide revered his wisdom and sanctity. Tours had a vacant episcopal see and the townsfolk wanted him to be their next bishop. They knew the humble hermit would never accept, so they lured him to their town under a pretext. When Martin uncovered their plot he fled and hid in a local barn. The people could not find him and implored God for help. As if in answer to these prayers, a goose began to honk incessantly. The din raised by the goose led the people straight to Martin's hiding place and they compelled him to accept the bishopric.
St. Martin went on to become one of the greatest bishops in the history of the Church. But saints also have a sense of humor. Bishop Martin caught that honking goose and had him cooked and served for the town's festival. From that day on a cooked goose became the main course in Christendom's autumn festival. [Note: You can read more about St. Martin at our Lives of the Saints.]
The Puritans may not have known the tradition of the goose, but the need to have a large fowl served at the meal lingered in their collective memory. The New England turkey was the most fitting alternative. So now when you eat turkey at Thanksgiving, know this tradition comes from a great Catholic saint of the fourth century!
A good lesson to recall in these days of 'wokeism' and 'cancel culture' is that the enemies of the Church may reject devotion to the saints, but they can never eradicate their legacy from our culture.