DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

The red or pink fleshy growth on the head and upper neck of the turkey is called 'caruncle' . The bright red appendage on the neck of the turkey is called ' wattle '. The black lock of hair found on the chest of the male turkey is called ' beard '. Frozen, fully stuffed turkeys, ready to cook, were introduced in 1955. Long before the Europeans came to America it were the Aztecs who used to domesticate turkeys to use them as food. They also used turkeys for religious sacrifices and their feathers for decoration. The turkey was considered a sacrificial bird in Mexico. Turkey is the state game bird of Alabama. The Wild Turkey is the official state bird of Oklahoma. The Wild Turkey was designated the state game bird of Massachusetts on December 23, 1991. Turkey eggs are tan with brown specks. Domesticated turkey hens that are artificially inseminated, lay around 80 to 100 eggs during a 25 week layin

  In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The origin and history of Thanksgiving Day in Canada is different from the American Thanksgiving. Whereas the American tradition talks about remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The geographical location of Canada is further north as compared to the United States therefore the harvest season falls earlier in Canada.    In Canada Thanksgiving 2009 will be celebrated on second Monday in October - 12th October 2009 . History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving There are three traditions behind Canadian Thanksgiving Day: 1 . The farmers in Europe held celebrations at the time of harvesting to give thanks for their good fortune of a bountiful harvest and abundance of food. The farmers would fill a goat's curved horn with fruits and grains. This curved horn was known as a cornucopia or the horn of plenty. It is believed that

This come from www.marthastewart.com .  This is for a change of pace in stead of pumpkin pie.  Make these little individual treats for a refreshing after dinner dessert. These mini pies feature a cranberry filling and are topped with billowy meringue. The recipe calls for the juice and zest of blood oranges, but if unavailable, regular ones work too. If you can't find blood oranges, use regular ones for the zest and juice.           Yield Makes 12 Ingredients All-purpose flour, for work surface Pate Sucree 3 1/4 cups fresh cranberries (12 ounces) 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped blood orange zest, plus 1/4 cup blood orange juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

   The majestic Thai elephant has long been a central element in Thai culture and has held a respected place in Thai history. A symbol of power and grace, the elephant was revered by the ancient kings. Elephants have been prominently featured in Thai legend, literature, art and architecture, and during the reign of King Rama II, an image of the auspicious elephant, symbolic of the King, was featured on the flag.    In daily life, as man and elephant depend on each other, the elephant is treated as part of the 'family'. The everyday life of the Thai elephant and its keeper is the central theme of the world-famous Surin elephant round-up held annually.    Province is the home of the Kui, who, for centuries, have tended to and trained elephants for use throughout Thailand. These handlers have great respect for their elephants.    The majority of elephant owners and mahouts in Thailand today are descendants of the "Kui" tribe (or "Suay&quo