Biden Cracks Jokes as He Spares Turkeys "Liberty" and "Bell"
As the American Thanksgiving holiday approaches, US President Joe Biden took part in a traditional ceremony to pardon two lucky turkeys. The lucky birds, named "Liberty" and "Bell", were spared from the fate that many others would face during the holiday.
Liberty Bell Symbolism
The turkeys that Biden saved on the South Lawn of the White House share a name with the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, a symbol of American independence.
President's Age and Humor
The ceremony for pardoning turkeys this year happened to coincide with Biden's 81st birthday. With his usual good humor, he joked at the ceremony that this was the 76th time turkeys had been pardoned by the president. "I want you to know that I wasn't there the first time."
Thanksgiving Traditions
American families have a long-standing tradition of serving turkey during Thanksgiving. The presidential pardon of turkeys before the holiday goes back to the 19th century. According to the White House, President Abraham Lincoln may have pardoned a turkey at his son's request in 1861. The turkey pardoning ritual became a fixed tradition in 1989, during President George Bush senior's term.
"Liberty" and "Bell" to Live Another Day
This year, Biden chose the names "Liberty" and "Bell" for the two turkeys he spared. These lucky birds will now live out their days on a farm rather than becoming the main dish at an American Thanksgiving celebration.
Enrichment Insights
The tradition of pardoning a turkey by the US president before Thanksgiving has become an essential part of American cultural heritage. It symbolizes mercy and forgiveness, much like the presidential pardon power itself.
The tradition can be traced back to 1947, when President Harry S. Truman pardoned the first turkey, but it gained more attention in the late 1980s, becoming an annual event under President George H.W. Bush in 1989[1].
Each year, two turkeys are chosen from a farm and presented to the President during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation. The turkeys receive an official pardon, saving them from the butcher's blade, and allowing them to live out their days on a farm. The event is seen as a lighthearted and festive occasion, providing Americans with a moment of levity during the holiday season[2].
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