The presidential turkey pardon: Here’s all you need to know about the White House Thanksgiving tradition

Gobble, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys pardoned on November 25. Photo Courtesy: AFp

President Donald Trump continued centuries of White House tradition by pardoning two turkeys - Waddle and Gobble - during National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation ceremony. The roots of this ritual stretch back to Abraham Lincoln's presidency, offering a fascinating look at how a custom that began as folklore evolved into a national spectacle.

History
Some say this tradition dates back to the 1800s, when President Abraham Lincoln is said to have spared a turkey's life after his son became fond of the bird. Before 1947, it was customary to gift a turkey to the U.S. President, though it is believed that not all of these birds were consumed. The origins of the modern 'pardon' remain unclear: some credit President John F. Kennedy for informally sparing a turkey in 1963, while others point to President George H. W. Bush, who made the ceremonial pardon an annual presidential tradition in 1989.

This Year's Presidential Turkeys
This year's birds, raised in North Carolina, received VIP treatment ahead of their moment at the White House. Waddle and Gobble were even lodged in luxury hotel accommodations after arriving in Washington, D.C.

The name of the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternative is selected by the White House, often chosen from suggestions submitted by the public. The President announces the final choice during the ceremony, and Both turkeys receive an official pardon from the Thanksgiving table.

How the Turkeys Are Selected
The president of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey by the National Turkey Federation (NTF), usually a male of the Broad Breasted White variety. They are selected in the same fashion as turkeys designated for slaughter and are fed a grain-heavy diet of fortified corn and soybeans to increase the birds' size. The Turkeys are slected from a flock of between 50 and 80 birds, typically from the farm of the current National Turkey Federation chairperson and hatched in early summer, which is narrowed down to 10 to 20 by late October or November and eventually narrowed down to two finalists.

Changing Traditions and Animal Welfare
Growing awareness around animal welfare has also led some American families to 'adopt' turkeys instead of eating them, sparing a few of the tens of millions raised - often in conditions criticised by animal rights advocates - for the holiday season.

What Thanksgiving Represents
Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is a time for gratitude, reflection, and gathering with loved ones. Its origins are commonly traced to the 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag people and English colonists, known as the Pilgrims. Today, it remains one of the most significant national holidays in the United States and Canada.