As far as Thanksgiving traditions go, breaking a turkey wishbone might just be the oldest (and most bizarre) custom of all! In fact, it pre-dates the very first Thanksgiving dinner altogether—and it gets its roots from ancient Italy! So how did the tradition of breaking a wishbone make its way to the American dinner table? While there's some debate over whether roast turkey was even at the first feast back in 1662, one thing we know for certain is that if you break the wishbone and win, your wishes will be granted (or so they say). So where did this strange tradition come from and what’s the trick to winning?
Breaking the turkey wishbone has quite the backstory and we dug deep to bring you a little history lesson on one of America's favorite post-dinner Thanksgiving activities. Plus, we also tell you how to find and remove the wishbone, and strategies you can use to best your opponent.
Looking for more fun Thanksgiving trivia? Check out our history on other traditional Thanksgiving foods.
What is the tradition with breaking a turkey wishbone?
Breaking a turkey wishbone is a tradition that's been around for thousands of years. It's believed to have started with the ancient Etruscans in Italy who believed that chickens had magical powers. 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!
In what can only be called an anthropological game of telephone, this custom was passed on to the Romans when they crossed paths with the Etruscans about 200 years later. The Romans then brought the tradition to England and it eventually crossed the Atlantic with the pilgrims on the Mayflower, where it became the Thanksgiving game we know today!
What are the rules for breaking 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:
Step 1
Lay the raw turkey down breast side up with the legs facing away and the neck cavity facing towards you.
Step 2
With your index finger, feel on the inside of the neck cavity to locate the wishbone. It should feel like a V-shape bone.
Step 3
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 you're not ripping any of the muscle.
Step 4
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.
Which side of the wishbone gets the wish?
Breaking the wishbone may look simple but in reality there's a real science (well, maybe not science but strategy) to winning at this turkey day tradition: First, to pick the side with the thicker bone (if your side of the bone is sturdier, it's less likely to snap in half as easily); next, when you're preparing to break it, be sure to grasp the bone higher up for better leverage (this will ensure that you're putting pressure where the two bones connect). Lastly, remember that the best defense is a good offense. Meaning, remain still while your competitor does all the pulling to make their bone more susceptible to snapping.
