Breaking a turkey wishbone might be the oldest (and wackiest) Thanksgiving tradition of all. It goes back to ancient Italy, which is a fun fact about the holiday.
But you may be wondering how the American dinner table came to have the custom of breaking a wishbone. There is some disagreement about whether roast turkey is a traditional Thanksgiving food that was served at the first feast in 1662. However, one thing is certain: if you break the wishbone and win, your wishes will come true.
Anyway, where did this strange tradition come from, and how do you win? Well, breaking the turkey wishbone has a long history, and we dug deep to bring you a history lesson on one of America’s favorite things to do after Thanksgiving dinner. They will also teach you how to find and remove the wishbone and give you tips on how to beat your opponent.
The wishbone is a popular part of the Thanksgiving tradition, but where exactly is it located in the turkey? This V-shaped forked bone has an important anatomical function for birds, and a long history of being used for good luck. Read on to learn all about finding the elusive wishbone and why we ceremonially break it.
What is the Wishbone?
The wishbone is not just a Thanksgiving novelty – it serves a key purpose for turkeys and other birds. Officially called the furcula, this forked bone is formed by the fusion of two clavicles. In turkeys the wishbone is located in the breast area.
Bill Nolan, a Butterball Turkey Talk-Line supervisor, explains that the wishbone acts as a spring that stores and releases energy when a turkey flaps its wings. So it facilitates flight and wing motion. This makes the wishbone crucial for avian mobility and survival.
Where to Find the Turkey Wishbone
Since the furcula is buried in the breast meat, some detective work is required to extract it. Nolan advises using this process
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Place the raw turkey breast-side up on a clean surface. Have the legs pointing towards you.
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Using a paring knife, cut a slit in the skin between the breast halves to get access.
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Feel around in the cut until you locate the V-shaped wishbone.
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Carefully cut the meat around it and gently pull it out in one piece.
The goal is retrieving the whole wishbone without breaking it prematurely. For safety, wash up after removing it.
When to Take Out the Turkey Wishbone
Ideally, the wishbone should be removed prior to cooking the turkey. Nolan explains there are two benefits to this:
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It prevents having to handle a hot roasted turkey.
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The breast meat will be easier to slice nicely after removing the bone.
Once the wishbone is out, it needs time to dry and become brittle. That signature snap when you break it requires the bone to dry for about a week.
Of course, waiting that long to make wishes isn’t always feasible. Some people bake it briefly after dinner to speed up drying before breaking it. Others opt to break it on Christmas if drying time is limited on Thanksgiving.
The History and Significance of the Tradition
The ritual of breaking the wishbone dates back thousands of years. It originated with the Etruscans, an ancient Italian civilization. They saw chicken collarbones ashaving oracular powers and would stroke dried wishbones while making wishes.
Later, the Romans adopted the practice but started breaking the bones in pairs to double the fortune. The tradition spread across Europe and made its way to America with English settlers.
Though turkeys weren’t eaten at the first Thanksgiving, the association with the holiday stuck over time. The wishbone breaking tradition ties in with Thanksgiving’s theme of expressing gratitude. It provides a lighthearted way to make wishes and build anticipation.
How to Win the Wishbone Breaking Contest
To get the bigger lucky half, Nolan has a few pro tips:
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Inspect the bone and choose the thicker side if possible.
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Grasp higher up the bone rather than near the bottom for more leverage.
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Let your opponent do most of the pulling work.
While snapping the furcula is mostly just for fun these days, discovering the wishbone remains a Thanksgiving ritual. Digging into the turkey to find this key anatomical part and learning its history keeps tradition alive.
What is the tradition of breaking a turkey wishbone?
Breaking a turkey wishbone is a tradition thats been around for thousands of years. Its believed to have started with the ancient Etruscans in Italy who believed that chickens had magical powers. The “wishbone,” which is a V-shaped bone near the neck of a chicken, was kept out in the sun to dry out. They would then take turns stroking the bone and making wishes, which is how the name came about. Later, they stopped stroking the bone and started breaking it instead. This has been done ever since.
When the Romans met the Etruscans again about 200 years later, they picked up this custom. It’s like a game of telephone between the two groups of people. The Romans then brought the custom to England. It finally made its way across the Atlantic with the Mayflower Pilgrims, where it evolved into the game we know today.
What are the rules for breaking a wishbone?
First, lets discuss why the furcula, or the wishbone, even exists. Its essentially a birds collarbones that are attached to the wings on either side. Its slightly more elastic than other bones in the body, which helps the bird fly properly. Heres how to carve a turkey and find the wishbone:
Lay the raw turkey on the ground with the breast side up. The legs should be facing away from you, and the neck should be facing you.
With your index finger, feel on the inside of the neck cavity to locate the wishbone. It should feel like a V-shape bone.
Use a paring knife to cut the muscle along the edges of the V shape. Insert your finger tip to slightly enlarge the slit making sure youre not ripping any of the muscle.
Once both sides of the bone are detached from the muscle, wiggle slightly to loosen up the bone. Then pull gently from the center of the V shape and remove the bone.
Where is the wishbone in a turkey?
FAQ
How to find the wishbone?
Why remove the wishbone?
Why do we break the wishbone of the turkey on Thanksgiving?
Where is the wishbone on a Turkey?
The turkey wishbone—also known as the furcula—is located near the bird’s breast. Bill Nolan, a supervisor of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, is here to walk you through some poultry anatomy, starting with where the fork to find the furcula.
What is a Thanksgiving turkey wishbone?
The Thanksgiving turkey wishbone, a seemingly insignificant bone holds a surprisingly rich history and a cherished tradition. This article delves into the origins location, breaking ritual, and even strategies for winning this playful Thanksgiving custom. Where is the Wishbone Located?
Do turkeys have a wishbone?
Though all birds possess some form of fused clavicles, the wishbone is most pronounced in birds like turkeys, chickens, pheasants and geese. So while wishbones can be found in other poultry, it is most associated with the Thanksgiving turkey. Why Do We Break The Wishbone? The tradition of breaking the wishbone dates back thousands of years.
Where is your wishbone located?
No. Humans don’t have a wishbone. And that’s because the wishbone, or the furcula, which you’ll find in birds, is a fusion of the clavicles. But we, as humans, have two clavicles.
Where did the tradition of breaking a turkey wishbone come from?
Breaking a turkey wishbone is one of the most ancient (and strangest) Thanksgiving traditions; it originated in ancient Italy and predates the very first Thanksgiving dinner! So how did the custom of breaking a wishbone make its way to the American dinner table?
Why is it called a ‘wishbone’?
They would save the furcula of chickens—a V-shaped bone near the neck—to dry out in the sun and would take turns stroking the bone and making wishes, hence the name “wishbone.” They later switched from stroking the bone to breaking it and the tradition has carried on ever since!