November is known for one of the biggest weeks in homes across America – Thanksgiving week! Viewed in the U.S. as the beginning of the holiday entertaining season, the tradition of dedicating a day to give thanks is not something that originated in the “New World.” In fact, it has strong ties to societies and cultures dating back to ancient times. According to History.com:
“As an annual celebration of the harvest and its bounty, moreover, Thanksgiving falls under a category of festivals that spans cultures, continents and millennia. In ancient times, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans feasted and paid tribute to their gods after the fall harvest. Thanksgiving also bears a resemblance to the ancient Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. Finally, historians have noted that Native Americans had a rich tradition of commemorating the fall harvest with feasting and merrymaking long before Europeans set foot on America's shores.”
While the “First Thanksgiving” is widely believed to have taken place in late 1621, it was not declared a national holiday until 1863, when President Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday of November would serve as the designated day. Over the decades the timing has changed, with Thanksgiving officially being celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November - a day that many Americans anticipate all year long.
In addition to spending quality time with loved ones who we may not have seen for days, weeks, months or even years, Thanksgiving is also known for being one of the most delicious holidays, because nothing brings families together like food.
Many of us will be digging into a juicy turkey this Thanksgiving (and if you are in need of a little inspiration, look no further than our Herbed Turkey Breast), and with its humectant properties, honey locks in your bird’s natural juices to prevent it from drying out. According to SFN Today, the average weight of a Thanksgiving turkey is 15 pounds; so what do you do with all of the leftovers? Well, fear not – below are four of our favorite honey-inspired recipes that will give those holiday scraps a new life.
Whether traveling or staying in, we hope that you get to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday full of love, laughter, and delicious food!
