Q: Being that Thanksgiving originated with the Pilgrims in Massachusetts, I wonder if it is even that popular down south, or is Turkey and cranberry sauce is that popular a food down south or do you eat Ham instead for Thanksgiving or what? Do grits and buckwheat cakes, or especially cornbread, or Poke Salad play any part in your Thanksgiving?
A: It is a very popular holiday all over the country, probably because it's all about the feasting and the family and not about gifts or religion. I've lived in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. The locals in all three of those states eat turkey for Thanksgiving, as well as cranberry sauce and (sometimes) cornbread. Some families have turkey AND ham, especially if there's a large crowd. The thing you'll see a lot of in the southern states you might not see up north is cornbread stuffing/dressing. What do Yankees use instead of cornbread dressing? Grits are a breakfast food, kind of like Cream of Wheat or oatmeal. I've never even seen a buckwheat cake and I don't know what poke salet is, so I couldn't tell you if that's important to a Southerner's Thanksgiving. Also, the Pilgrims in Massechusets more likely ate venison than turkey. And Thanksgiving wasn't established as a formal holiday until Lincoln became president.
Related items
- Thanksgiving riddles, Can you answer?
- Are you already cooking parts of your Thanksgiving dinner now?
- do you think the sales after thanksgiving are worth waiting in line at 4am?
- Do you prefer an extended family gathering or more intimate immediate family together for Thanksgiving?
- Any ideas on what reastaurants are open on thanksgiving?