As the morning light breaks on this Thanksgiving Day, we are filled with anticipation for the joyous celebrations ahead. Today is a time to gather with loved ones, express gratitude for our blessings, and indulge in delicious food. But before we embark on our festive feasting, let’s take a moment to explore 19 fascinating facts about turkeys, share a purr-fect cat joke to tell at the dinner table, and learn a limerick to impress your uncle. Plus, we’ve got an awesome recipe for a mixed drink using whiskey to kick off your Thanksgiving festivities with flair!
19 Fascinating Facts About Turkeys:
- Turkeys are native to North America and were domesticated by Native Americans over 2,000 years ago.
- The wild turkey is the same species as the domestic turkey and is found in forests across North America.
- Male turkeys are called toms or gobblers, while females are called hens.
- A group of turkeys is called a flock.
- Turkeys have excellent vision during the day but poor night vision.
- The wattle, a fleshy growth under a turkey’s chin, helps regulate body temperature.
- Turkeys can run up to 25 miles per hour and fly short distances at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.
- The turkey’s distinctive gobble can be heard up to a mile away.
- Benjamin Franklin advocated for the turkey to be the national bird of the United States instead of the bald eagle.
- Turkeys have a diverse diet that includes seeds, fruits, insects, and small reptiles.
- The snood, a fleshy flap of skin over a male turkey’s beak, becomes engorged with blood when he is excited or trying to attract a mate.
- Turkeys have been domesticated for thousands of years and are raised for their meat and feathers.
- The turkey is a symbol of abundance and prosperity, particularly during Thanksgiving celebrations.
- Female turkeys make soft clucking sounds to communicate with their young, known as poults.
- Wild turkeys can live up to 10 years in the wild, while domestic turkeys are typically raised for meat and harvested between 12 to 20 weeks of age.
- Turkeys have a keen sense of hearing and can detect danger from far away.
- In the wild, turkeys roost in trees at night to avoid predators.
- Turkeys have a distinctive strut called a “courting walk” used during mating displays.
- The tradition of pardoning a turkey by the President of the United States dates back to the 1940s.
Cat Joke for the Dinner Table: Why did the cat sit on the computer? Because it wanted to keep an eye on the mouse!
Limerick to Impress Your Uncle: There once was a cat from the city, Whose fur was incredibly pretty. It would purr and it’d play, Through the night and the day, Bringing joy to each Thanksgiving committee.
Recipe: Whiskey Sour Ingredients:
- 2 oz whiskey
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
- Serve and enjoy responsibly!
As we gather around the Thanksgiving table today, let us cherish the moments shared with family and friends, savor the delicious food, and express gratitude for the blessings in our lives. From all of us at Atlanta Air Authority, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and warm memories! Cheers to a day of celebration and togetherness.
