The Observer

Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Entertainment

This time of year turkey is everywhere. They are seen in decorations as the season's unofficial mascot. They are seen running across the road, and occasionally scattered across it as a myriad of feathers; Most importantly though, they are seen on our dinner plates on Thanksgiving Day. So what's the deal with turkey? The tradition of turkey has been present in our culture for hundreds of years, and over this period of time many myths have developed around this odd bird, but are any of them true?
Tryptophan is the legendary amino acid found in turkey that's said to make us sleepy after our holiday meal. It's true that tryptophan does cause drowsiness, but does this really mean that you should expect to nap after dinner? In truth, according to webmd.com there isn't enough tryptophan in turkey to really affect you. They say you would need to eat about 40lbs of turkey to make a difference.
Another myth is about why we call turkeys, turkeys? They were named after the country Turkey; this title could lead some to believe that they are from Turkey, however they are not. According to Mauricio Espinoza, from The Ohio State University website turkeys were actually named that by mistake as they were confused with a bird that was from the country Turkey now called the guinea fowl.
Finally, one of the most well known myths about the turkey and other fowls alike is that of the wishbone. The wishbone is found in the breast bone of most birds and as the story goes when two people make a with, each holding an end of the bone, and pull the bone apart whoever has more of the bone when it breaks will have their wish come true. Is this myth true? Give it a try this Thanksgiving and see for yourself, just maybe it is.

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