(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The Associated Press contributed to this post. The article White House Turkey Pardon, 'Friendsgiving' Start Holidays: Photos appeared first on Washington DC Patch.

Gifting the White House poultry can be traced back to the 1800s, but the origins of the ceremonial presidential pardon of the National Thanksgiving Turkey might be more recent than you'd think.

Peas and Carrots, the two turkeys chosen to take part in the White House Turkey Pardon, have been living ... On Monday, reporters took pictures of the two South Carolina-raised birds relaxing ...

President Biden pardoned two turkeys from Minnesota on Monday, in keeping with the annual White House turkey pardon tradition ... Peach and Blossom will join the free birds of the United States ...

President Ronald Reagan was the first to use the word "pardon" in connection with the turkey. THe bird, named Charlie, was sent to a petting zoo instead of the dinner table. By 1989, the formality ...

Over in the US, one of their more unusual national traditions is the annual White House ‘turkey pardon’. What happens is this: every Thanksgiving, the sitting president steps out onto the ...