“Especially with my family, turkey is more centered around Thanksgiving, and ham is more Christmas dinner,” junior Ariel Joyal said.

According to HISTORY, turkey has been thought of as the main dish since the 19th century. At a young age, we are taught about the “First Thanksgiving” when pilgrims and Native Americans shared a meal supposedly with turkey as the main course. Thanksgiving themed coloring books are filled pages with turkeys to color and draw. Even for school activities, teachers will have kids draw around their hand to create a hand turkey. Regardless of where or what the activity is, a turkey is involved.

“Turkey is like the theme for Thanksgiving, so it makes more sense for Thanksgiving than ham,” Joyal said.

Unlike ham with its sweet taste and overpowering flavor, turkey can be paired with the many other side dishes Thanksgiving brings. This feast incorporates a variety of flavors and textures with every plate differing in variation. Mac and cheese, green bean casserole, and stuffing are common dishes to prepare for the feast, but other dishes could be brussels sprouts and butternut squash soup. A common Thanksgiving side sauce could be cranberry sauce, and when paired with turkey, it joins the two flavors producing an enhanced taste with balance.

“I think ham and turkey are good by themselves, but I think that turkey with cranberry sauce is better than ham,” sophomore Aaron Weatherholtz said. “I just think that the flavors go together well and with gravy too.”

However, these two meats can differ from individual palettes in each household. Ham in one family’s house may taste saltier in another due to how it was cooked. But these foods require good preparation in order for the flavors to be considered delectable by itself. Ham alone is a simple and juicy food when cooked or baked. The meat stays moist and flavorful on the inside, yet hard and crunchy on the outside.

“Ham is just juicier and more seasoned than turkey,” junior Kamaya Mallory said. “Turkey is too dry, while ham is more moist with flavor and such a quick meat to cook”

There are many factors that must be considered when finding the star of Thanksgiving. Aside from food and family, Turkey holds Thanksgiving to its amazing standards. highest standards. The turkey bird itself holds the traditional fall colors of orange, brown, and yellow. All around the U.S. turkey is this holiday symbol. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade stars a giant turkey. Many runners participate in the Turkey Trot, a race on Thanksgiving to raise money for charities. The most exciting tradition for younger kids on Thanksgiving is when the turkey’s wishbone is pulled between two children, whichever one gets the larger bone gets to make a wish, in hopes it will become true. Not only do national events showcase turkeys, Louisa gives teachers and administrators turkeys for their meals.

“I prefer turkey,” assistant principal Shaun-Michael Woody said. “It is so traditional.”