How did the Spanish Armada mix in with Thanksgiving?

Though turkey on Thanksgiving might seem like the most American of traditions, chances are the United States at least indirectly owes one of their more beloved traditions to the country’s roots in England. While there’s no absolute way of knowing why the Pilgrims sat down to a turkey dinner way back when, one theory dates back to England’s Queen Elizabeth choosing roast goose for a harvest festival in the 1600s. Upon learning that the Spanish Armada had sunk, the Queen then ordered a second goose, and a new tradition was born. Roast goose then became the favorite bird during England’s harvest time. As the theory goes, upon arriving in what eventually became the United States, the Pilgrims looked to continue the “fowl” tradition in their new land. However, geese proved elusive in the Pilgrims’ new home, while wild turkeys were more abundant and much easier to find. So while the tradition of eating turkey on Thanksgiving might seem as American as apple pie, this theory suggests it’s actually deeply rooted in English history.