Why Do We Pardon Turkeys on Thanksgiving? The History, Meaning, and Vegan Alternatives

Every November, the presidential Thanksgiving turkey pardon captures national attention. Cameras flash as the President stands beside a turkey, declaring they are “pardoned.” Feathers ruffle, photographers snap shots, and people smile at the festive scene. It may look sweet, maybe even kind, but behind this lighthearted ceremony lies a deeper question: why do we need to pardon a turkey at all? And what does sparing one bird say about the tens of millions of Thanksgiving turkeys still raised for food each year?

The History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon

The story of the turkey pardon is surprisingly rich. One of the earliest known acts resembling a pardon goes back to 1863, when Abraham Lincoln’s young son, Tad, grew fond of a turkey named Jack, destined for Christmas dinner. Tad begged his father to spare the bird, and Lincoln agreed.

Over time, this small act of mercy evolved into a ceremonial tradition. By the 1940s and 50s, the National Turkey Federation began presenting live turkeys to the White House during Thanksgiving, often accompanied by media coverage. These early presentations often ended with the birds being eaten, and the word “pardon” wasn’t applied until Ronald Reagan’s presidency in 1987. The modern annual ceremony, formalized by George H.W. Bush in 1989, officially spared the turkeys from slaughter, creating the tradition we know today.

What the Turkey Pardon Really Means

The Thanksgiving turkey pardon highlights a moment of mercy but also exposes a troubling contradiction. On one hand, it acknowledges that turkeys are sentient beings worthy of compassion and capable of curiosity, recognition, and social bonds. On the other hand, it spares just one or two birds while millions of other turkeys remain confined to factory farms and slaughtered for holiday meals.

Nearly 50 million turkeys are slaughtered in the United States each year for Thanksgiving meals.

Turkeys Are Individuals, Not Ingredients

Every turkey, including the one pardoned, is a unique individual. They explore, interact, and even form friendships, displaying personalities and behaviors that are often overlooked when they are reduced to food.

True compassion would mean sparing all turkeys from lives spent in cramped, unnatural conditions.

Reimagining Thanksgiving: Compassion Over Cruelty

We can reimagine Thanksgiving in a way that aligns with kindness. Instead of centering the holiday on a turkey who suffered, we can celebrate abundance, community, and gratitude without cruelty.

Choosing plant-based holiday meals is one of the most powerful ways to do this. Plant-based options allow us to enjoy all the warmth, flavor, and togetherness of the holiday while protecting turkeys and other farmed animals from unnecessary suffering.

Plant-Based Thanksgiving: A Celebration That Saves Lives

Plant-based eating isn’t about sacrifice; it’s about possibility—possibility for creativity, flavor, and tangible impact. Every plant-based dish reduces demand for factory-farmed turkeys and other animals, protecting them from lives of confinement and painful deaths.

This year, move beyond symbolism and make Thanksgiving a celebration where no being suffers:

• Check out 9 Plant-Based Thanksgiving Main Dishes Everyone Will Love to get inspired with vegan meals this holiday season.
• Explore our Vegan Guide to the Holidays.
• Participate in #NoMeatNovember with a new recipe!