The Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner. In a few short days we’ll be gathering with family around the dinner table for a turkey dinner. While that’s the tradition we all know and practice, there are some more obscure traditions that go along with the holiday.
Some you may be familiar with, some maybe not. But when we take a deeper look, they are a bit strange. Let’s take look at some of the strangest Thanksgiving traditions that are out there.
Weird Thanksgiving Traditions
Turkey Pardoning – Every year since the 1940s, the commander of the free world has taken time out of his busy schedule to conduct a turkey pardoning. That turkey then goes to live out its life on President George Washington’s former estate, Mount Vernon. It sure beats ending up someone’s dinner.
Turkey Bowling – You don’t need a ball and pins to enjoy this American classic. In some places, water or soda bottles, paired with a packaged bird may make perfect substitutions for the sport. This take on bowling started in a Newport Beach, California grocery store in the 80s.
Turkey Trots – Many of these runs involve dressing up as a turkey and running 3-5 miles. It’s an odd twist on the traditional 5Ks or 10Ks, any way you slice it. This tradition is also an excellent way to exercise before you eat.
Turkey Eating Contests – In a few locations around the country, people gather for turkey eating contests to celebrate the holiday. Joey Chestnut holds the record for the most bird eaten in a short sitting.
Pie Throwing – At North Technical High School in Florrisant, Missouri, Thanksgiving is marked students throwing pies at the school’s faculty. For a lot of local teenagers, that sounds like a therapeutic way to spend a holiday.
