Goose, turkey…
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — A Christmas Carol
novastar_6 — 11 years ago(December 18, 2014 09:16 PM)
These days goose is harder to come by in most stores than turkey is, and more expensive, and yet here, the Cratchits on their own had a goose, not a big one, but a goose nonetheless, but Scrooge goes for the prize turkey. My question, why would it not have been a prize goose since that's supposed to be the fancier variety of poultry?
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ghostfan — 11 years ago(December 24, 2014 07:45 PM)
I really don't think a goose was fancier then. I have never eaten goose, but I understand they are a greasier, gamier bird, and not quite as sanitary.
I live in a nicely sized suburb, and they wander freely and protected over parking lots and golf courses. I think turkeys took more breeding and care at the time, and therefore were more expensive.
I have often wondered why, when geese are in such abundance, why someone couldn't take one down with a bow and arrow and serve it for Christmas dinner, or take down a bunch, and serve them for dinner at a homeless shelter somewhere.
How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours. -
fleurfairy — 10 years ago(November 18, 2015 10:16 AM)
Isn't turkey American in origin? Much like pumpkins and maze. That's why they were considered THE meat at the First Thanksgiving (whether that's historically accurate or not). It would have probably been difficult for Brits to access turkey easily back then.
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caracallac — 10 years ago(November 30, 2015 06:09 AM)
There was a definite hierarchy to the food eaten by people at Christmas in Dickens time. The really wealthy would be serving Beef, the prosperous middle class turkey and the lower middle class and better off working class goose. The poor would eat anything at all only if they were lucky. It was actually the popularity of this particular story that saw turkey become the ubiquitous Christmas fare for all.
The subtext of Scrooge sending a Turkey to Bob and his family which would have been obvious to readers at the time, is that Scrooge by his actions is raising their social status. -
romar289 — 9 years ago(December 10, 2016 04:25 PM)
Roasted, either make for a nice dinner. Long ago, we would have a Maryland eastern shore goose for some weekend dinners. It was a bit more "gamey" but mom would use bacon strips with potato/onions and other veggies over/in it. It made for something different and was nice but turkey always seemed the most popular at the table. What halted the goose tradition at our house was when Dad bit down on a hidden shotgun pellet and needed dental work as a result and it was back to turkey!
The best revenge: Live well, enjoy life and be happy. Drives any haters crazy.