Observed annually on the fourth Thursday in November—a day known across the U.S. as Thanksgiving—Turkey Free Thanksgiving is a holiday that supports people who choose not to eat turkey. Some people opt for a turkey-free holiday because of animal rights concerns or because they are vegan or vegetarian.

Others might celebrate this holiday because they feel that other main dishes, such as ham or roast beef, taste better. Regardless of why a person wants to eliminate turkey from their day, one thing is crystal clear: a lot of people are doing it.

Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving

Since this holiday coincides with Thanksgiving, let’s take a few moments to go over some interesting facts about this holiday that we’ve listed below.

• Americans eat over 700 million pounds of turkey every Thanksgiving.
• The busiest day of the year for plumbers is the day after Thanksgiving.
• Native Americans not only used cranberries in various recipes but also used them to heal wounds.
• The most unpopular ingredient in a potential Thanksgiving meal is tofu.

Observing Turkey Free Thanksgiving

Celebrating Thanksgiving without a turkey isn’t all that difficult. There are a variety of other foods that can be substituted for it, depending on the reasons why the turkey is being eliminated in the first place. For someone who doesn’t consume animals, there are substitutes such as sweet potato & chickpea cakes, zucchini verde enchiladas, veggie burgers, or even vegan shepherd’s pie.

For people who eat meat but don’t like turkey, options include roast duck or chicken, a chuck roast, or even a spiral ham. And just about everyone can enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving sides such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and of course, pie. Everyone should make sure they use the hashtag #TurkeyFreeThanksgiving on their social media accounts to let people know that they don’t have to eat turkey on Thanksgiving.