Thanksgiving is an all-American tradition, full of family, turkey, cranberry sauce, parades, floats, and the blissful tryptophan-induced nap we all sink into at the end of the evening. New traditions are added to the holiday all the time, such as the Presidential Turkey Pardon. Since 2005 another all-American tradition has been added: a trip to Disneyland.
When President Obama pardons two turkeys today the birds will then fly to Disneyland in California to serve as honorary Grand Marshals of the Disney Thanksgiving Day Parade. Afterward they will retire to the Big Thunder Ranch in Disneyland’s Frontierland.
Some claim the presidential turkey pardon dates back to President Harry Truman in 1947. Other legends attest that Abraham Lincoln’s pardoned his son’s pet turkey. While still other records show that President Kennedy spared a turkey on November 19, 1963, but an official “pardon” was not granted.
In reality, the first official turkey pardon took place in 1989 under President George H.W. Bush. The tradition is erroneously connected to President Truman because he was the first to accept a turkey given to him by the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board in a White House ceremony.
The ceremony’s real name is “The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation,” of which this is the 62nd year. Ever since George H.W. Bush was in the White House, turkeys have received an official presidential pardon. However, when George H.W. Bush’s son, George W. Bush became president, the pardoned turkeys also got a free trip to Disney.
Today, not only are the turkeys saved from the White House dining table, but they are granted an extended life span. Normally farm turkeys only live about 18 weeks because they are bred to be heavy. But since Disney opened its ranch for the presidentially-pardoned birds, they’ve lived much longer. May and Flower, the turkeys pardoned in 2007, are still living in luxury at Disney World in Florida.
I have to say I’m jealous of the turkeys. They get to meet the president, then they get a free first-class flight to Disneyland or Disney World. In addition, they score great tickets to a Disney extravaganza, and after that they retire comfortably at an upscale ranch. I want to live out the rest of my days in the Disney Kingdom. Where do I sign up?
Sure, I’m being a bit silly, but it’s only in the spirit of the whole tradition. Not only does the President hold a ceremony to receive a couple of turkeys (one spare in case the first can’t perform its duties. What duties, exactly, I wonder?), but then he pardons them, whereupon Disney makes the two gobblers heads of its parade and gives them a cozy life at a popular theme park.
Still, the whole thing raises a few questions. For example: Does this mean the President doesn’t actually eat turkey at Thanksgiving? Is Disney so desperate for good PR that they create fuss about two oversized birds? Is worth it? Should we be waiting for Disney to debut a new holiday mascot in the form of a cartoon turkey?
I think it’s supposed to be a little silly. Thanksgiving is designed to be relaxing. It’s a time to unwind with your family, enjoy a great meal, and have fun. If that means the President holds a party to pardon some turkeys and Disney flies them to its parks, then perhaps that means we’re adding a new tradition of injecting some whimsy into the holiday.
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