Presidential Turkey Pardons
Since the 1940s, US presidents have been presented with a Thanksgiving turkey at a special ceremony and, occasionally, have spared the bird’s life by officially pardoning it. (It’s not clear what crime the birds committed in the first place to warrant a pardon.)
In 1989, George Bush Senior made the turkey pardon a permanent part of the ceremony, so it’s now an annual event. The happy turkeys are returned to a farm to live out the rest of their lives – which, unfortunately, usually last less than a year, as the birds have been so overfed that they contract heart disease and other obesity-related illnesses.
And if you’re wondering whether there’s some deeper meaning or symbolic reasoning to this ritual – there isn’t.
Groundhog Day, Pennsylvania
On February 2 every year, groundhog burrows across America are put under intense scrutiny for their powers to foretell seasonal change.
Folklore states that if it’s cloudy, the groundhog will emerge from its burrow and spring will come early. If it’s sunny, it will return to the burrow and winter will continue for six more weeks.
The tradition of going out to watch the groundhog has been around since as early as the eighteenth century and the biggest celebration these days is in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania – the state where the tradition originated, and made famous by the 1993 film Groundhog Day.
Cherry Pit Spitting, Michigan
2019 was the 46th year of the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship, held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Michigan. It’s simple, eat the cherry and spit the pip as far as you can.
Contestants aren’t allowed to “pop” their cheeks with their hands, and no foreign objects or props are allowed. The record is an impressive 93.5 ft (28.5m); apparently, it’s all about curling the tongue.
Culled/Titilayo Kupoliyi
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