Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Pardon: A White House Thanksgiving Tradition

The presidential turkey pardon is an interesting White House tradition that has captured the attention of the public in recent years. Live Thanksgiving turkeys have been presented to presidents since the Lincoln administration. The turkey pardon ceremony has been said to date back to 1947, when President Harry Truman received a turkey as a gift from the National Turkey Federation. The Truman Library has been unable to find any evidence of this.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan informally issued a "pardon" to a turkey and sent him to a petting zoo. It wasn't until the first Thanksgiving of President George H.W. Bush, in 1989, that a turkey was officially pardoned. Each year since, the President has formally pardoned a turkey and spares it from ending up on the Thanksgiving table. A pardoning ceremony is held each year in the White House Rose Garden a day or two before the national holiday.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Restaurants in the Washington, DC Area

 

Looking for an interesting place to eat out on Thanksgiving? Here are some suggestions of nice restaurants to enjoy your holiday meal. Some places get very busy, so call now to make your reservation! Pricing excludes tax and gratuity and is subject to change. Please verify the information with the restaurant when making a reservation.

Rest Your Fears About Hosting Thanksgiving

As the host of Thanksgiving dinner, you will have plenty on your plate to be concerned about. But thanks to these tips, the things that could possibly go wrong probably won’t. Relax—have a drink. You got this.

What If I Don’t Have Enough Food?

Thanksgiving nightmare No. 1  is running out of food, as guests clamor for another helping of green bean casserole. You don’t have to guesstimate the amount of food you need to feed your crowd. Simply plug in your number of guests here and you’ll have your shopping list. Wondering how big of a turkey to buy? The USDA recommends 1 pound per person. And check out our breakdown of turkey types to help you choose the best one.

What If All the Food Isn’t Ready at the Same Time?

The turkey is getting cold on the counter while the yams are still rock-hard in the oven. Your quickest solution is a warming tray to keep items ready for the table as you pull together the meal’s remaining dishes. When possible, make menu components in advance and then reheat as needed. “Try not to panic,” advises Raleigh, N.C.-based life coach Julie Coraccio. “Most people won’t notice.” And if they get fidgety? “Bring it back to what the day is about—giving thanks and enjoying the company of loved ones.”

What If the Turkey Is Undercooked or Overcooked?

Cooks have worried over turkeys since they began serving them. Ensure a properly cooked turkey each and every time by following the steps outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture in its “Let’s Talk Turkey” Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey. Or, call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline—even on Thanksgiving Day. And of course a digital meat thermometer would help.

What If Someone Isn’t Having Fun?

That’s not really your problem. “You could throw an amazing party and someone might be bored, but that has nothing to do with you,” Coraccio says. “If someone isn’t having a good time, focus on everyone else enjoying themselves.” The recipe for a perfect Thanksgiving gathering looks something like this: tasty appetizers, games, soothing music, dinner and drinks, a flow of conversation, and plenty of dessert. Done.

What If I Serve the Wrong Dessert?

No such thing! Pumpkin and apple pie are the most traditional choices, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with serving other pies and desserts. “Consider asking someone to bring a pie, other than the traditional ones,” Coraccio suggests. “Ask a bakery what other pies and desserts are popular for Thanksgiving, and you have a good chance of having people who like one or the other.”

The bottom line, according to Coraccio: “Do the best that you can and let the day flow as it’s meant to.”

Happy Thanksgiving from the Hotel Harrington family to yours!