Be sure and check out the latest episode of Did You Know on the Vincennes PBS YouTube channel.

The episode dives into Thanksgiving stats, revealing that nearly 90% of Americans celebrate the holiday, with 55.4 million traveling to join loved ones. Around 46 million turkeys are prepared each year, making it the centerpiece of a feast enjoyed by 293 million people.

So why is turkey to the dish of choice this season?

Turkey became the centerpiece of Thanksgiving due to its practicality and ties to American tradition. Its large size and affordability made it ideal for feeding families, and its native status to North America added symbolic value.

According to Britannica.com, while the 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag may not have included turkey, the bird gained prominence in the 19th century thanks to writer Sarah Josepha Hale. Her tireless advocacy for Thanksgiving as a national holiday helped establish the modern celebration, with turkey becoming a key part of the tradition she championed.