Demystified | Why Americans Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving

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And no Thanksgiving meal is complete without \u2013 that\u2019s right \u2013 turkey. But why *turkey*, exactly? How did this strange bird come to dominate the dinner table? Well, turkeys have a lot going for them. For one thing, they\u2019re big. Big enough to feed a family. For another, they\u2019re not usually raised for their eggs, like chickens are. In the old days, that meant that turkeys were more \u2026 expendable, which in turn made turkey meat relatively cheap. The fact that wild turkeys are native to North America made them a natural choice to be served at early Thanksgiving celebrations. But that doesn\u2019t mean that they were always the most important part of the feast. In fact, the event we now think of as The First Thanksgiving may not have had any turkey at all. It\u2019s true that the Pilgrims shared a meal with the Wampanoag Indians at Plymouth Colony in 1621. But all we know for sure about the menu is that it included deer and \u201Cfowl.\u201D That fowl *might* have been turkey, but more likely it was ducks or geese. What\u2019s more, that 1621 meal didn\u2019t exactly start a trend. Throughout America\u2019s early history, some communities did hold ceremonies to give thanks for the fall harvest. And over time, the common turkey did become a popular centerpiece for these occasions. But the so-called First Thanksgiving was largely forgotten about until the 19th century, when various local traditions inspired the idea of a national celebration. For more than 30 years a writer named Sarah Josepha Hale advocated for Thanksgiving to become an official U.S. holiday. Her efforts finally succeeded in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential proclamation. Only then did people begin to think of Thanksgiving as a uniquely American observance. The story of the Pilgrims became closely connected to the holiday, as did, well, the turkey. Even if they weren\u2019t served at the First Thanksgiving, turkeys *were* mentioned in Pilgrims\u2019 journals. And at least one Founding Father was fond of them: Benjamin Franklin touted the turkey as a \u201Crespectable bird\u201D and a \u201Ctrue original native of America.\u201D By the end of the 19th century, people across the country were calling the holiday \u201CTurkey Day.\u201D Symbolism aside, it was practicality that ensured the turkey a permanent place on the Thanksgiving table. Through the years, they\u2019ve remained affordable. And thanks to modern breeding techniques, they\u2019re big enough to feed a family--with plenty of leftovers.", "width" : 1920, "height" : 1080, "url": "https://www.britannica.com/video/turkey-dish-meal/-238846" } </script></head> <body data-leg="A" class="standalone-video-page user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-ab-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" ></script><div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. 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"https://www.britannica.com/videos/Lifestyles-Social-Issues", "name": "Lifestyles & Social Issues" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb my-10"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="/" class="">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="" href="/videos">Videos</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="" href="/videos/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a> </span> </nav> <h1 id="video-title" class="h2">Why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?</h1> <hr class="mt-20 mb-30"> <div class="content"> <div id="video-container"> <div class="grid video-player-with-playlist"> <div class="col-100 "> <div id="vpwpl-video-player-container" class="vpwpl-video-thumbnail-container position-relative top-0"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/201815-138-224359CE/turkey-dish-meal.jpg" alt="Why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?" class="rounded super-video-thumbnail" /> <div class="btn btn-xl border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 4px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </div> <div class="vpwpl-video-title mt-10 font-weight-bold mb-10"> Why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving? </div> <div class="vpwpl-video-caption mt-15 d-none d-md-block mb-10"> For a lot of Americans, the best thing about Thanksgiving is the food. </div> <div class="vpwpl-credit mb-20 font-13 text-gray-600 font-italic "> Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. </div> </div> <ul class=" col-100 vpwpl-playlist-below vpwpl-playlist mt-15 mt-md-0"> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-1 vpwpl-video-item video-playing" data-assemblyid="238846"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/15/201815-138-224359CE/turkey-dish-meal.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/IampksmB.m3u8"}],"assetId":201815,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/PMCMEloH.m3u8","title":"Why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/eogPAXq8","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/turkey-dish-meal/-238846#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">For a lot of Americans, the best thing about Thanksgiving is the food.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/turkey-dish-meal/-238846" >Why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/turkey-dish-meal/-238846"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/201815-138-224359CE/turkey-dish-meal.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-2 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="68553"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/97/72897-138-BF17B77F/Pacific-Region.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/V0M1z0qM.m3u8"}],"assetId":72897,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/JQj0SlWy.m3u8","title":"Explore the diverse geography and climates across the United States' Pacific Region","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/wYe5uVtD","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Pacific-Region/-68553#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">The Pacific Region of the United States is both geographically diverse and beautiful.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Pacific-Region/-68553" >Explore the diverse geography and climates across the United States' Pacific Region</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Pacific-Region/-68553"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/72897-138-BF17B77F/Pacific-Region.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Explore the diverse geography and climates across the United States' Pacific Region" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-3 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="68555"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/99/72899-138-323BDA27/People-world-Pacific-Region.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/fzsCtRmj.m3u8"}],"assetId":72899,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/KDH8QJoo.m3u8","title":"Meet diverse immigrants in the Pacific Region and follow an immigrant Vietnamese family in California","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/qOO6b85n","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/People-world-Pacific-Region/-68555#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">People come from all over the United States and all over the world to live in the Pacific Region of the U.S.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/People-world-Pacific-Region/-68555" >Meet diverse immigrants in the Pacific Region and follow an immigrant Vietnamese family in California</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/People-world-Pacific-Region/-68555"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/99/72899-138-323BDA27/People-world-Pacific-Region.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Meet diverse immigrants in the Pacific Region and follow an immigrant Vietnamese family in California" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-4 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="207560"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/87/186987-138-2B277CF8/tips-chemistry-dinner.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/LvjwKDu3.m3u8"}],"assetId":186987,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/wl6XufIr.m3u8","title":"Learn through chemistry the five tips to cook a better Thanksgiving dinner","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/v3oHbzig","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/tips-chemistry-dinner/-207560#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">© American Chemical Society (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Five tips to cook a better Thanksgiving dinner using chemistry.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/tips-chemistry-dinner/-207560" >Learn through chemistry the five tips to cook a better Thanksgiving dinner</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/tips-chemistry-dinner/-207560"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/87/186987-138-2B277CF8/tips-chemistry-dinner.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Learn through chemistry the five tips to cook a better Thanksgiving dinner" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-5 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="250878"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/41/220441-138-4EA7A4E9/on-this-day-Thanksgiving.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/CtjVzf5w.m3u8"}],"assetId":220441,"title":"The true history of Thanksgiving Day","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/ohkAf5D7","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/on-this-day-Thanksgiving/-250878#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">On the fourth Thursday of November, many Americans gather around the table with their families and fill their plates with turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing—but why? In this episode of <em>On This Day</em>, Encyclopaedia Britannica's Kurt Heintz explores the true history that lies beneath the myths and mysteries of this American custom (with a few glances at what Canadians do too).</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/on-this-day-Thanksgiving/-250878" >The true history of Thanksgiving Day</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/on-this-day-Thanksgiving/-250878"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/220441-138-4EA7A4E9/on-this-day-Thanksgiving.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="The true history of Thanksgiving Day" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-6 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="248635"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/16/217416-138-97122E76/Just-the-facts-Thanksgiving.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/c9r2cfXh.m3u8"}],"assetId":217416,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/pisqmei5.m3u8","title":"When was the first Thanksgiving?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/rt8FMTS6","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Just-the-facts-Thanksgiving/-248635#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Learn more about Thanksgiving.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Just-the-facts-Thanksgiving/-248635" >When was the first Thanksgiving?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Just-the-facts-Thanksgiving/-248635"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/16/217416-138-97122E76/Just-the-facts-Thanksgiving.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="When was the first Thanksgiving?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-7 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="68478"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/41/72941-138-349E8D3E/Hubert-Humphrey-personalities-some-presidents.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/De6F0eyz.m3u8"}],"assetId":72941,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/8OqOxjGW.m3u8","title":"Listen to former vice president Hubert Humphrey examine the personalities of memorable U.S. presidents","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/YwmlAfAZ","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Hubert-Humphrey-personalities-some-presidents/-68478#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Hubert Humphrey discusses the personalities of some of the 20th century's most memorable presidents.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Hubert-Humphrey-personalities-some-presidents/-68478" >Listen to former vice president Hubert Humphrey examine the personalities of memorable U.S. presidents</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Hubert-Humphrey-personalities-some-presidents/-68478"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/72941-138-349E8D3E/Hubert-Humphrey-personalities-some-presidents.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Listen to former vice president Hubert Humphrey examine the personalities of memorable U.S. presidents" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-8 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="207561"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/88/186988-138-45089C10/chemistry-tryptophan-myth-drowsiness-turkey.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/Oo8GLBPr.m3u8"}],"assetId":186988,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/N7948cl3.m3u8","title":"Does the tryptophan in turkey actually cause sleepiness?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/di28WY0n","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/chemistry-tryptophan-myth-drowsiness-turkey/-207561#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">© American Chemical Society (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">How chemistry explains tryptophan and debunks the myth that eating turkey (which contains it) induces drowsiness on Thanksgiving.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/chemistry-tryptophan-myth-drowsiness-turkey/-207561" >Does the tryptophan in turkey actually cause sleepiness?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/chemistry-tryptophan-myth-drowsiness-turkey/-207561"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/186988-138-45089C10/chemistry-tryptophan-myth-drowsiness-turkey.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Does the tryptophan in turkey actually cause sleepiness?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; 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top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="related-topics mt-20 font-14 text-muted"> <strong>Related Articles:</strong> <span id="related-articles"> <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day">Thanksgiving Day</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/turkey-bird">turkey</a> </span> </div> <hr class="my-30 col-100"> <h2 class="font-16 text-uppercase my-30">Transcript</h2> <div id ="transcript" class="lh-lg font-serif"> Why Do We Eat Turkey at Thanksgiving <br/>For a lot of Americans, the best thing about Thanksgiving is the food. <br/> <br/>And no Thanksgiving meal is complete without – that’s right – turkey. <br/> <br/>But why *turkey*, exactly? How did this strange bird come to dominate the dinner table? <br/> <br/>Well, turkeys have a lot going for them. For one thing, they’re big. Big enough to feed a family. <br/> <br/>For another, they’re not usually raised for their eggs, like chickens are. In the old days, that meant that turkeys were more … expendable, which in turn made turkey meat relatively cheap. <br/> <br/>The fact that wild turkeys are native to North America made them a natural choice to be served at early Thanksgiving celebrations. But that doesn’t mean that they were always the most important part of the feast. <br/> <br/>In fact, the event we now think of as The First Thanksgiving may not have had any turkey at all. <br/> <br/> <br/>It’s true that the Pilgrims shared a meal with the Wampanoag Indians at Plymouth Colony in 1621. But all we know for sure about the menu is that it included deer and “fowl.” That fowl *might* have been turkey, but more likely it was ducks or geese. <br/> <br/>What’s more, that 1621 meal didn’t exactly start a trend. Throughout America’s early history, some communities did hold ceremonies to give thanks for the fall harvest. And over time, the common turkey did become a popular centerpiece for these occasions. <br/> <br/>But the so-called First Thanksgiving was largely forgotten about until the 19th century, when various local traditions inspired the idea of a national celebration. For more than 30 years a writer named Sarah Josepha Hale advocated for Thanksgiving to become an official U.S. holiday. Her efforts finally succeeded in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential proclamation. <br/> <br/>Only then did people begin to think of Thanksgiving as a uniquely American observance. The story of the Pilgrims became closely connected to the holiday, as did, well, the turkey. Even if they weren’t served at the First Thanksgiving, turkeys *were* mentioned in Pilgrims’ journals. <br/> <br/>And at least one Founding Father was fond of them: Benjamin Franklin touted the turkey as a “respectable bird” and a “true original native of America.” <br/> <br/>By the end of the 19th century, people across the country were calling the holiday “Turkey Day.” <br/>Symbolism aside, it was practicality that ensured the turkey a permanent place on the Thanksgiving table. Through the years, they’ve remained affordable. <br/> <br/>And thanks to modern breeding techniques, they’re big enough to feed a family--with plenty of leftovers.</div> </div></div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <footer class="md-footer footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <DIV class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"><div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"> <strong>History at your fingertips –</strong> Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid d-flex justify-content-center"> <div class="col-sm-50 col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="enter-your-email">Enter your email</label> <input id="enter-your-email" type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto col-100 mt-5 mt-sm-0"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-white" style="width: 100%; height:100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="link-white text-decoration-underline" href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. 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Demystified | Why Americans Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving | Britannica