So, what about that Thanksgiving bird?

It’s November, and on the 27th, the turkey will reign Thanksgiving Day in a stately fashion at dinner tables around America. We know that every turkey isn’t born or raised equally. But that’s OK. There’s no need to advocate for turkeys’ rights. On that special day, they have the right to be eaten. Whether Honeysuckle, Butterball, Norbest, Pilgrim’s Pride, or another brand, we will eat every morsel in gratitude and thanksgiving to God.

A turkey is a big bird—not to be confused with Big Bird that lives on Sesame Street. Big Bird is a living legend! Loved by children all over the world, Big Bird stands more than eight feet tall. He never needs a presidential pardon.

Big Bird is native to America, just like the turkey, although we don’t know what species the famous fowl originates from. And who knows what’s under all of those yellow feathers?

Unlike the turkey, Big Bird isn’t edible. He’s an anthropomorphism or a concept with human traits. You can’t eat a concept or trait! Anyway, I don’t like eating stuff I can’t pronounce.

The turkey is also a beloved bird, and it’s edible! There’s no jiving about this fact. And I hope no one encounters a turkey who disrespects Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is all about family, food, and overflowing gratitude.

How the turkey got its name?

But don’t you think the delectable Thanksgiving bird took a bad rap being named turkey?

We didn’t give it that name.

I bet Benjamin Franklin would’ve named the popular bird something different. History states he spoke well of the fowl. Franklin compared the bird to the bald eagle, which was suggested for our national bird. He said the turkey was more ‘respectable.’

I enjoy eating respectable meats, don’t you? I wouldn’t call the vulture respectable or delectable.

But who would name such a popular, admirable bird that even Benjamin Franklin spoke well of a ’turkey’?

Parents have the right to name their children. My husband and I named our daughter Cambria. And Jim Henson named his cherished yellow bird Big Bird.

And the country of origin has the right to name its native animals and things.

The turkey is as American as apple pie. It’s our bird. So, why does this reigning American bird have the name of a country in the Middle East?

Go figure, why is our bird named after Turkey?

Remember the fun we had in grade school coloring the feathers and wattle of the long-neck birds? The teacher posted them on the Thanksgiving bulletin board, and sometimes we took them home.

What’s up with our bird and Turkey?

According to several sources, the original Native American names for turkeys were huexoloti (Aztec) or guajolote (Mexican).

Christopher Columbus carried various Native American goods of potential interest to investors in his travels and explorations. Among these goods included huexoloti.

Through contraband, some of these Native American goods, including huexoloti arrived in the Ottoman Empire. Turkey was once the center of the vast Ottoman Empire. The people in Turkey and the empire were skillful and successful farmers and husbandmen. Breeding and cultivation of the Americas’ goods produced great yield. They exported surplus goods and birds to Europe.

These Native American goods arrived in England, and huexoloti became a premiere meat source. Along with these changes came a new name for the in-demand bird.

Long story short, Native America’s huexoloti became known in English as the turkey.

Maybe Turkey did us a favor.

How do you pronounce huexoloti?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a great gobble, gobble day!

Be safe.