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 unique part of a turkey’s anatomy. Also known as the furcula or “little fork”, it’s that V-shaped bone you probably remember cracking open with family members after Thanksgiving dinner But have you ever wondered where exactly the wishbone is located inside the turkey? Let’s take a closer look at turkey anatomy and the origins of this quirky tradition
Anatomy of a Turkey Wishbone
The wishbone is formed by the fusion of two bones called the clavicles. In birds, these fused clavicles are known as the furcula or “little fork” because of their forked shape. The furcula is located between the turkey’s neck and breast.
More specifically, the furcula attaches to the coracoid bones near the turkey’s shoulders and to the sternum lower down near the breast. The furcula serves as a springy connection that stores and releases energy during flight When the turkey flaps its wings, the furcula flexes and recoils to aid the bird’s motion.
So next time you’re carving the turkey, look for the upside down V-shape where the breast meat begins. You’ll find the furcula wedged right in that spot. It may be covered by skin and other tissues, so you’ll have to dig around a bit to extract it fully intact.
Why Do We Break the Turkey Wishbone?
Breaking the turkey wishbone is a fun Thanksgiving tradition, but where did this peculiar practice originate?
Some historians believe the tradition dates all the way back to the Etruscans, an ancient civilization in what is now Italy. The Etruscans thought chicken collarbones (similar to turkey wishbones) had magical, prophetic properties. They would stroke a dried chicken furcula and make a wish.
Later, the Romans adopted the practice but added the bone-breaking component. As the tradition spread, people started believing whoever snapped off the larger portion of the bone would have their wish come true.
Early European settlers brought the tradition to America. Since turkeys were so abundant, colonists began breaking turkey wishbones instead of chicken bones. The tradition stuck and became attached to the Thanksgiving holiday.
These days breaking the wishbone is more about friendly competition than actual wish-making. It’s a playful way to finish off the holiday meal. Some families even save the wishbone until Christmas for another round of turkey bone-breaking fun.
How to Find and Remove the Wishbone
Finding and removing the wishbone is easiest when the turkey is raw. Here are some tips:
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Place the whole raw turkey breast-side up on a clean surface. Legs should be facing you.
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Using a sharp knife, cut a slit in the skin between the two halves of the breast to expose the breast meat.
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Feel around with your fingers until you locate the upside down V of the wishbone.
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Carefully slice the meat around the wishbone to loosen it.
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Grasp the bottom of the wishbone and gently remove it from the turkey.
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Rinse the wishbone and let it air dry for several days before cracking it.
Removing the wishbone before cooking helps ensure clean cuts of breast meat. Trying to dig it out of a fully cooked turkey can be messy and difficult. Plus, you want the bone to dry out completely so it gives that satisfying snap when broken.
If you forgot to remove it pre-roasting, carefully feel for the wishbone among the cooked meat. Use a knife to loosen the tissue and pull it out gently. Place the bone in a 200 F oven for 10-15 minutes to quick dry it before breaking.
How to Win the Wishbone Breaking Contest
Once the wishbone is ready, gather two contestants and have them each grasp one side of the bone. Interlock pinky fingers to establish who will make the wish if they win.
To gain the upper hand, here are some techniques to try:
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Choose the thicker side of the bone if given an option.
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Grip closer to the top rather than the bottom for better leverage.
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Let your opponent do most of the pulling while you resist slightly.
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Distract your opponent by talking or telling jokes. Time your pull when they are least focused on the bone.
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Convince the other person that the winner has to grant the loser’s wish. Then lose on purpose!
At the end of the day, breaking the wishbone is just a lighthearted way to have fun with family. Don’t take the outcome too seriously. The real magic is spending time together and carrying on a unique holiday tradition.
So next Thanksgiving when it’s time to crack open the wishbone, you’ll know exactly where to find it and how to tactfully win. Traditions like this remind us to take time to appreciate our loved ones, no matter how silly the activity. Gobble gobble!
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!