“Chip” and “Chocolate” can rest easy. These two big white turkeys won’t be in the oven this Thanksgiving. US President Joe Biden indeed used his presidential prerogatives on Monday to pardon them before the big family celebration, where these birds are traditionally served stuffed.
“That’s a beautiful bird,” exclaimed the president as the 21 kg strong “Chocolate” turkey was placed on a table. “Chip” and “Chocolate” (“Nugget” and “Chocolate”) were named like this in homage to Joe Biden’s favorite ice cream flavor, who did not fail to tell schoolchildren present for the event.
Joe Biden and the “stuffed” ballot boxes
The light-hearted ceremony is an annual tradition at the White House and often the occasion for a few jokes. The president used the results of the recent midterm elections, where his party surprised by doing better than expected, to launch some quips and puns. He assured that the ballot boxes had not been “stuffed”, referring to the unfounded accusations of electoral fraud launched by certain Republicans.
Joe Biden also mentioned how the Covid-19 pandemic has severely restricted such celebrations for Americans in recent years, and urged his guests to feel gratitude for those who protected them during the health crisis, including the doctors, nurses and scientists. “Two years ago, we couldn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving with large family gatherings. Now we can,” he said.
Stuffed turkey is the traditional dish served in the United States on the occasion of Thanksgiving, which celebrates the first harvest, obtained with the help of Native Americans, English pilgrims freshly arrived on the American continent.