感恩节常识：为什么吃火鸡？

感恩节的餐桌上，除了酸果酱和南瓜饼，最显眼的要数一只大大的火鸡。人们在庆祝丰收，保佑平安，为什么独独是火鸡桑这么悲催不能活过那天呢？相信大家都有同样的疑惑吧！小编怀着对生命的热爱和大家来探究一下火鸡被摆上感恩节餐桌的原因。

首先熟悉一些鸡类的单词，在英语中被广为人知的turkey（火鸡），我们为什么在感恩节吃火鸡？因为十月里的火鸡，膘肥体壮，“正是火鸡欲上时”。自然成为了人们的首选目标。

火鸡曾被哥伦布误认为是珍珠鸡。事实上，早在中世纪就有“印度鸡”这种叫法。但是“印度”在这里指的是阿比西亚，珍珠鸡在那里是野禽。

当哥伦布在墨西哥上岸，并相信自己到达的是印度时，他眼中的火鸡就无辜被叫成了“印度鸡”。所以后来“印度鸡”就成了火鸡的第一个正式说法。到了16世纪上半叶，火鸡才被欧洲人摆上餐桌。

火鸡的象征意义

拿火鸡做为感恩节的象征是再贴切不过了。因为火鸡在北美印第安人眼中象征着男子汉的力量与女人的繁殖能力。

Of all the symbols of thanksgiving, the turkey is most familiar and widespread. It is considered as the most famous exemplary might be due to its sharp features, bright hues and majestic appearance. Turkey is a common breed and a native of northern Mexico and the eastern United States. Now it is being raised in large numbers and some of the commonplace species that are popular are Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, and Bourbon Red. Though there is no evidence that Turkey was available to the pilgrims, Massachusetts from where the practice originated, has a legend that it was served in the first Thanksgiving Dinner.

In a book written by the Pilgrim's Governor Bradford, he mentions of wild turkeys while another Pilgrim describes in a letter sent to England how the governor sent 'four men out fowling' who returned with turkeys, ducks and geese for the feast. Though no accurate reports were found, a tale goes where turkey was their original choice but they could not find it. They cooked crow instead and served the local Indians. As a part of tradition, turkey remains of central importance in the Thanksgiving menu surrounded by several other delicious dishes. During the dinners, the family members may also utter a few lines of thanks or chant a special prayer.