To gobble or not to gobble, that is the question.

“Tis the season to be jolly” so the carol goes but not if you are one of the 15m turkeys in the UK or 22m in the USA that will be consumed on Christmas Day this year.

This means that 1 in 3 people in the UK will consume a traditional turkey dinner this Christmas making it the highest percentage in the world. Accompanying the turkey will be a host of vegetables depending on where you come from in the world but in the UK it would traditionally be served with roast potatoes, carrots, parsnip, peas and brussel sprouts. Sauces accompanying the turkey include gravy, cranberry sauces and bread sauce.

There are over a dozen different species of turkey but the most popular is the white breasted that was genetically created over 50 years ago to give the most meat and therefore better value. More traditional species are smaller but have much more taste and are growing in popularity.

It is not sure when turkey became the main meat for Christmas in the West as goose was very popular in the UK during the 19^th century and villages often saw turkeys and geese being escorted to market wearing little booties. The first turkey was thought to have been brought to the UK in 1526 by William Strickland, a Yorkshireman

Turkey was also the first meal eaten on the moon by Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, not a bad feat for an animal that in most variants cannot fly.

It is also a good job that Ben Franklin did not get his own way as he thought that the turkey should be the national bird of America and not the bald eagle…….

Resident turkeys in countries such as on a beachfront apartment in Australia, Poland, Lithuania and the Ukraine have a much better view of Christmas as many people in these countries celebrate Christmas with a 12 dish Christmas Eve Supper said to represent the 12 months of the year or the 12 apostles. No meat, egg or milk dishes may be served so the turkeys get to see Christmas day to.

Other meats popular around the world to celebrate Christmas include pork, lamb and various species of fish

Personally speaking Christmas just isn't Christmas without turkey although a bar b que on a quiet beach on a tropical island with plenty of cocktails is starting to come very close. Chances are that I may have the opportunity to do both this year.

Merry Christmas and an alcoholic New Year to all