What Is a Wishbone?

Before we dive in about this particular piece of Thanksgiving history, a little biology refresher: The wishbone’s anatomical name is actually “furcula.” It’s a V-shaped bone that lies between a bird’s neck and sternum. It's similar to our collarbones but more elastic. This flexibility allows the bone to act like a spring, which allows a bird to flap its wings and fly.

How to Find and Remove the Wishbone

Since the wishbone game is best with a dry bone—and the turkey breast is easier to carve without the furcula—we suggest locating and removing the wishbone before you roast the turkey. Here’s how to find and remove the wishbone:

• Place the raw turkey on a clean cutting board (one that you reserve for raw meat only) with the breast-side up, legs pointing away.
• With a clean index finger, reach into the neck cavity to locate the V-shape bone in the center.
• Using a paring knife, slice along the edges to cut a thin incision through the muscle. 
• Stick your finger inside this slit to make it slightly larger. 
• When you’ve sliced enough of the turkey away to detach both sides of the bone from the muscle, use your fingers to loosen the bone. 
• Pulling gently at the center of the “V,” remove the bone.

To use the furcula for the turkey wishbone game, it should be clean and dry. (And while we’re mentioning it, don't forget clean and sanitize that cutting board after transferring the bird to the roasting pan to keep your turkey and your kitchen food safe.)

Wash the bone with soap and water. You can either allow the wishbone to air-dry for about a week, or pop it in the oven for an hour as the turkey cooks.

The Turkey Wishbone Game, Explained

According to historians, this origins of this Thanksgiving tradition began about 2,400 years ago among residents of the ancient Italian civilization called Etruria. They believed that hens were oracles, so when they killed one, they’d remove the furcula and dry it in the sun. The Etruscans would then carry the furcula around and stroke it, believing this habit would provide good fortune or help make wishes come true.

Over time, the Etruscans began to notice there weren’t enough wishbones to go around, so they began snapping them in half between two people. A couple centuries later, the Romans came to town and picked up the practice. The Romans brought the tradition to England, and the English colonists transported it with them to the New World.

Even though there probably weren’t turkeys at the first Thanksgiving (historians believe that the main dish was probably pork, lamb, wild fowl, or game), the tradition carried on throughout the year as the colonists hunted wild turkeys, ducks, and geese that were prominent in the area.

Why is the Turkey a Symbol of Thanksgiving?

When the turkey became closely linked to Thanksgiving in the 1800s, the wishbone game came along with it. Some etymologists believe the phrase “getting a lucky break” is a nod to being the victor of the turkey wishbone game.

Which Side of the Wishbone “Wins”?

To play the turkey wishbone game, two people think about a wish while each is pulling on opposite ends of the furcula. When the wishbone breaks, the individual with the centerpiece is said to have their wish come true.

How to Win the Wishbone Game

If you’re craving a lucky break, these strategies might help you come out as the victor:

• Begin the turkey wishbone game with dry hands.
• Aim to select the side with the thicker, sturdier bone.
• Hold the wishbone between the thumb and forefinger of your dominant hand, placing your fingers as close as possible to the center “V.”
• Try to remain still and let your competitor do the yanking.

Now that you’re well-versed in this unique Thanksgiving tradition, this holiday season might just be your luckiest yet. To help ensure it’s the tastiest, too, don’t miss our best Thanksgiving recipes that will really impress your guests.

Origins of More Thanksgiving Traditions

Eating cranberries with turkey

Nobody knows whether cranberries were eaten at the first Thanksgiving, but if they were, it would have been without the benefit of sugar. But since they are one of the few fruits native to North America, and we now have plenty of sugar with which to balance their tartness, cranberries have become part of this very American holiday. Also, they’re harvested in fall, making them an in-season addition to the feast.

Pumpkin pie for dessert

If pumpkins were present at the first Thanksgiving, it wouldn't have been as a pie. Instead, pumpkins would have been roasted, with milk, honey, and spices added to the hollowed-out shell to make a kind of custard. About 170 years later, the first recipe resembling pumpkin pie as we know it was published in 1796. By the 19th century pumpkin pie became the unofficial dessert of the holiday.

Green bean casserole

Good old GBC (green bean casserole) is probably the most recent addition to the Thanksgiving table. The casserole recipe was commissioned in 1955 by Campbell’s Soup and this simplest of side dishes (just five ingredients!) has been going strong ever since.