Joe Biden is set to celebrate his 81st birthday this month by honoring a official White House Thanksgiving tradition. The President will be joined by his family to host the annual White House Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony.
The tradition began back in 1989 when former President George H.W. Bush first pardoned a turkey in celebration of the holiday. Since then, it has become an established tradition for American presidents to pardon a turkey in honor of Thanksgiving.
Joe Biden, in line with many presidents before him, will continue the tradition this year, and on November 17th he will pardon a turkey at the White House. The turkey will come from a family farm in North Carolina’s eastern coastal plain. It is believed that Biden will name the turkey after his late son Beau.
The awarding of a pardon to these turkeys is not simply a symbolic gesture by the President. Rather, it’s a show of thanks and respect for those farmers who produce the food that will grace millions of dinner tables this holiday season.
Aside from pardoning a turkey, Biden’s 81st birthday will be celebrated with his family in a small, socially distanced gathering. The president is reportedly planning to travel to his home state of Delaware to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family.
This year marks the first where Joe Biden will be celebrating both his birthday and Thanksgiving as president. As a veteran of many Thanksgivings in the White House, Biden will be continuing the long-held tradition of presidential pardoning and honoring thankful Americans everywhere.
“Celebrate Biden’s 81st Birthday with a White House Thanksgiving Tradition!
