The outgoing President of the United States, Joe Biden, granted the traditional pardon to two turkeys this Monday, saving them from being part of the Thanksgiving dinner.
This event, held in the South Lawn of the White House, was rich in symbolism and nostalgia, as it will be the last time Biden leads this ceremony before handing over the presidency to his successor, Donald Trump, on January 20.
In a reflective tone, Biden took the opportunity during the event to express his gratitude at the close of his term.
"It has been the honor of my life. I am eternally grateful," he said in front of 2,500 guests, including cabinet members, students, and families of White House staff.
The protagonists: Peach and Blossom
The pardoned turkeys this year are named Peach and Blossom, in honor of the peach blossom, a symbol of the state of Delaware, where Biden has his private residence.
Both specimens, male weighing 40 and 41 pounds (between 18 and 19 kilograms), were born in July on a farm in Minnesota.
Before arriving in Washington, they traveled for 16 hours and rested in a suite at the luxurious Willard InterContinental Hotel, following an interesting tradition.
"The peach blossoms also symbolize resilience, which is frankly fitting for today," Biden remarked in his speech, highlighting the symbolism of names.
During the ceremony, the president joked about the peculiarities of each bird.
"A Peach loves to eat hot dishes, run like a cheetah, and ski off-piste," while "Blossom enjoys cheese curds, watching boxing, and dreams of visiting each of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes," he explained.
A tradition with history
The presidential pardon of turkeys has its roots in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, who declared that the last Thursday of November would be Thanksgiving Day in 1863.
Lincoln is also credited with the first pardon of a turkey, although it was for Christmas.
However, it wasn't until 1989, during the presidency of George H.W. Bush, that this ceremony was established as an annual tradition at the White House.
After the pardon, Peach and Blossom will return to Minnesota to live at Farmamerica, an agricultural interpretation center that connects people with the history and significance of agriculture in the United States.
As Biden explained, they will serve there "as educational ambassadors of the leading turkey-producing state in the United States and to inspire the next generation of agricultural students."
The turkeys pardoned in the three years of Joe Biden's presidency were:
Jill Biden and the Christmas tree
This Monday, First Lady Jill Biden received the official White House Christmas tree, a 5.64-meter (18.5-foot) Fraser fir from Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in North Carolina.
This tree, called Tremendous, survived the devastating Hurricane Helene, which destroyed thousands of trees in the region.
"This tree symbolizes the extraordinary hope it represents," expressed Jill Biden during the reception, an event that is also part of the traditions of the season.
The White House calendar for December will be filled with festivities, including receptions for various communities, West Wing staff, members of Congress, and the press.
The Biden family will use these celebrations as a way to say goodbye after Joe Biden's fifty-year political career.
Thanksgiving Day, which will be celebrated next Thursday, November 28, will bring together millions of Americans to enjoy one of the country's most important holidays, where turkey, along with traditional side dishes, will be the centerpiece on tables across the nation.
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