Episode Information

Thanksgiving. A most treasured holiday, and not just in the USA; it continues to be celebrated across the world in many different guises. Though steeped in tradition, a lot of the ritual is embellishment. Cornucopias that decorate American tables have their routes in ancient Greek fables, and potatoes are often served even though they were yet to be discovered at the time of the first Thanksgiving. But one thing unites all these traditions: a celebration of the harvest and the generosity of the natural world. Many animals also have weird and wonderful connections to the holidays. For a lot of people, turkeys are the most iconic character of Thanksgiving, but deer, lobsters and even eagles are also part of the feast in one way or another. So perhaps it’s time to re-examine what comes to mind when we think of Thanksgiving.