As strange as many of them seem today, all holiday traditions started somewhere. That goes for customs with deep histories, like breaking the turkey wishbone, as well as relatively recent and completely made-up observances. Todays holiday traditions often have roots in pagan rituals—celebrating the summer and winter solstices, for instance—and were later Christianized and, eventually, commercialized. Many American Thanksgiving traditions, on the other hand, take a different approach. They turn a dark chapter of the countrys past—involving White colonialism, malnutrition, smallpox, and an attempt to establish a theocracy—into a piece of feel-good folklore that has long been taught as the history of Thanksgiving rather than Thanksgiving mythology. When is Thanksgiving centered on the true treatment of Native Americans? Not often enough, but you can change that by creating new traditions that honor and respect Native Americans. Of course, one Thanksgiving tradition has more of a connection with a specific food than Plymouth Rock: breaking a turkey wishbone. Because everyones favorite fowl wasnt even featured at the first Thanksgiving, the ceremonial breaking of the turkey wishbone has its origins elsewhere. You have a reason to be grateful, though: Weve investigated the origins of the wishbones tradition, explaining how to find them, and why we break them.
The wishbone is one of the most iconic symbols of the Thanksgiving holiday. Derived from a turkey’s chest bone this fragile piece holds a venerable spot at the holiday table. But have you ever wondered about the specifics of a wishbone’s location and purpose within the turkey’s anatomy? Let’s explore the biological role and festive folklore behind this prized poultry part.
Anatomy of a Wishbone
To understand where the wishbone comes from we first need to understand some basic turkey anatomy. A wishbone is simply the fused collarbone or furcula of a turkey. Formed by the junction of two clavicles at the anterior base of the breastbone it has a distinctive forked or V-shape.
While thin and delicate, this fused bone plays a crucial role in avian biomechanics. It acts as a flexible spring, stretching and recoiling as the turkey flaps its wings during flight. This elastic action stores and releases energy, helping power the bird’s wingbeats for efficient airborne movement.
The Origins and Lore of the Wishbone Tradition
The tradition of breaking turkey wishbones dates back thousands of years and across multiple cultures. One of the earliest associations traces back to the Etruscans of ancient Italy.
Around the 5th century BCE, the Etruscans would remove a chicken’s wishbone, dry it, and stroke it while making wishes. They believed birds could foretell the future, with the wishbone specifically symbolizing life, luck, and destiny.
Later, during the Roman Empire, the tradition shifted to physically breaking the bone. Two people would each take one side of the V-shaped bone, make a wish, and pull – whichever person received the larger portion was destined to have their wish come true.
This ritual persisted through England’s medieval period before finally sailing across the Atlantic with European settlers. Though wild turkeys, not chickens, were abundant in North America. So the colonists adopted the native bird into their wishbone ritual.
Today, turkey wishbones remain center stage at Thanksgiving. Though no longer seen as prophetic, they still represent hope, good fortune, and the magic of having our wishes fulfilled.
Finding and Preparing the Wishbone
Since wishbones are small and tucked within the turkey’s anatomy, locating them takes a bit of finesse. Here are some tips for retrieving this lucky bone:
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Place the raw turkey breast-side up on a clean surface. Carefully slice through the skin at the top of the breast to reveal the meat below.
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Feel gently with your fingers between the breast halves to locate the V-shaped furcula. Then use a paring knife to detach it from the surrounding cartilage and flesh.
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Gently pull the bone free and set it aside. Take care not to snap it prematurely!
To dry the bone for breaking, let it sit undisturbed for several days. For quicker results, you can place it on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven for an hour or two. The low gentle heat helps evaporate moisture.
Once dried, the wishbone will be brittle enough to snap when you apply pressure. Avoid over-drying, as the bone could crumble instead of cracking cleanly.
Breaking the Wishbone
When the big moment arrives, gather together and grab hold of your lucky bone. Here are some tips to up your chances of getting the bigger piece:
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Inspect the bone and choose the thicker half for yourself. This side has more surface area to grab onto.
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Grasp higher up, near the top of the V instead of the bottom. You’ll gain better leverage.
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Let your opponent do most of the work by pulling the bone toward themselves. Don’t exert too much force.
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On the count of three, pull! The bone should snap relatively easily if dried properly. May the wishbone odds be ever in your favor!
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No cheating allowed – any resultant pieces must be divided fairly based on who “won” the larger portion.
Other Turkey Bones: Uses Beyond Wishing
While the wishbone may get top billing around Thanksgiving, let’s not forget the turkey’s other bones. These can also be put to good use:
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After carving the meat, simmer the backbone and other large bones to make a nutrient-rich turkey stock. Strain and use for soups, gravies and more.
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Roast the wing tips and smaller bones until browned and crispy for crunchy garnishes on salads or appetizers.
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Once trimmed of excess tissue, the larger leg bones can be dried, decorated, and incorporated into holiday crafts or table decor. Get creative!
A Tradition to Treasure
However you choose to celebrate, the wishbone encapsulates the spirit of Thanksgiving. Taking time to find, prepare, and ritually break this delicate bone connects us to valued food traditions and nostalgic memories with family and friends.
May your own wishbone bring you hope, spark childlike wonder, and remind you to embrace the simple magical moments in life. Here’s wishing you and yours a very happy and hearty holiday season!
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. “The furcula is the fusion of the two separate clavicles of the turkey at the top of the breast,” he tells Reader’s Digest.But what’s the function of the furcula? “The wishbone has an important function for the turkey,” Nolan explains. “Its elastic nature serves as a spring, which flexes when the turkey flaps its wings. That ‘spring’ releases energy for the wings.” Meanwhile, “find the furcula” should really be on any list of
- Set the raw turkey on a freshly cleaned surface—a cutting board is ideal.
- Make sure to have the breast side up, with the legs at the bottom and pointing at you.
- Using a paring knife, cut away some of the skin at the top of the breast, in between the two halves.
- Feel down into the meat until you find the wishbone.
Once youve found it, Nolan says to gently use your knife to cut around the bone on each side and at the top. “You can then gently pull the wishbone out of the turkey, but be careful not to break it as you do so,” he notes. “For safety, remember to wash your cutting board when youre finished removing the wishbone.” No one wants to deal with post-Friendsgiving food poisoning. But why not just perform a post-dinner postmortem on the carcass when its time to
Remove the Wishbone from a Turkey
FAQ
Where is your wishbone located?
What day do you break the wishbone?
How do you cut the wishbone out of a turkey?
Where is a wishbone found in a Turkey?
It’s formed from the fusion of two collarbones and is found at the base of a turkey’s sternum, or between its neck and chest. The bone supports a bird’s chest when it’s in flight.People don’t have wishbones, simply, because people don’t fly.
What does a turkey wishbone look like?
It doesn’t exactly look like any human bone we learned about in biology class—so what the heck is it and what part of the turkey does it come from?! A wishbone is simply the forked chest bone of a bird. It’s formed from the fusion of two collarbones and is found at the base of a turkey’s sternum, or between its neck and chest.
Why does a Turkey have a wishbone?
First, let’s discuss why the furcula, or the wishbone, even exists. It’s essentially a bird’s collarbones that are attached to the wings on either side. It’s slightly more elastic than other bones in the body which helps the bird fly properly. Here’s how to carve a turkey and find the wishbone:
Where is a chicken wishbone located?
It’s located right between the neck and breast of a bird. Ancient Romans were the first to see the wishbone as a symbol of luck, which eventually turned into the tradition of actually breaking it apart. A chicken wishbone would be snapped apart by two people while they were each making a wish.