Have you ever wondered how turkey came about as being the traditional meat choice for the annual Christmas Dinner?
Whether you love or loathe this traditional poultry, Christmas eating for many is summarized by the choosing, buying and cooking of this particular bird.
Often forgotten about for most of the year, the beginning of December means the frantic panic on families nationwide as we rush to secure our turkeys in advance and store them to avoid the sharp rise in cost seen during the festive season.
With British households spending on average of £796 on Christmas every year, totalling up to an impressive £22bn throughout the country, the importance of traditions is important and apparent in the large amounts of money people are willing to spend.
Last Christmas saw a staggering 10 million turkeys devoured across the country, but surprisingly, the turkey has not always been the traditional poultry of choice for this annual holiday.
Once a luxury, it only became widely available around the 1950’s when refrigerators became more wide spread and the working wage increased.
Only for the privileged, the first English king known to enjoy a large turkey on Christmas was Henry VIII, while its first pop culture appearance is in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, where Scrooge is seen buying Bob Cratchit a turkey to replace his goose as a significant gesture of good will.
So if turkey was only available to the privileged, what did the majority enjoy for their Christmas dinner?
Before the tradition of turkey took off and became common on the dining room table thanks to the invention of the refrigerator, many families would tuck into dishes made from roasted swan, pheasant, goose and peacocks.
For those wanting to splash out and treat themselves, roasted boar head with fruit and holly would be served; we also owe our thanks to the royal family. If it wasn’t for Edward VII who made turkey trendy, the tradition of turkey on the table as we know it wouldn’t be around.
Turkey on Christmas day is not widespread around the world, with different countries preferring their own traditional dishes.
Venison and wild boar is the meat of choice in Germany, while in the Caribbean country of Jamaica, the Christmas dinner is usually a dish made of rice, chicken and curried goat.
For us turkey lovers however, when it comes to cooking the perfect roast, having the correct equipment is a must.
Our Chichester Carving Dish is a tradition upon itself, helping you to carve and present whichever roast you choose this Christmas.
No matter the meat of your choice, this stainless-steel carving dish was patented in 1962 and allows you to present the meat while the strong spikes hold the dish in place.
Made from quality stainless steel, the Dexam Chichester Carving Dish will look attractive in the centre of your table and with years of being a trusted tool in kitchens and carveries nationwide, you can be confident in a hassle free and delicious Christmas.
For more information about the Dexam Chichester carving dish, take a look at our website or explore our useful blog on being prepared and purchasing the necessary equipment for a stress-free Christmas dinner.