THE WORLD-WIDE TURKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE WORLD-WIDE TURKEY

ORIGIN A VEXED QUESTION The,, turkey is now the most popular feature of the Christmas fare, yet there are, probably, few who could tell-you where it came from originally. Certainly it is, a long time ago since it came to Europe. Columbus is said to have introduced it from the New World. Mexico is named as the land in which it first shook its feathers as a domesticated bird, but when, the great Genoese arrived in the West Indies it had long been transported to those We must pay him a little credit for recognising that it might very suitably continue its journey East for the benefit of the people of his own hemisphere. To-day it vies in •importance with the boar’s head and the peacock of mediaeval days, although we do not accord it the ceremony that was given to the bird with the wonderful tail, for no common hands were permitted to serve the- peacock to the table. Only the most distinguished lady guest of birth and beauty was allowed this honour. It was then carried in io the strains of music, followed by all the ladies in procession. Such ancient ceremony now belongs to a past age. But as a feast the turkey is none the loss appreciated, and although the music may bo of the “tinned” variety peculiar to bur age. it is probably considerably la-tter than that which ..c--companied the carving of the peacock.