It’s that time of year when a bite of chill is in the air, decorations are hung through the streets, homes are lit up a little brighter, and joyful music is all around. Families come together and everyone takes a moment to think of the many blessings that surround them. The thought of Thanksgiving traditions start to fill our hearts with excitement and we can hardly wait for that delicious fried turkey dinner! Miller’s Insurance Agency is preparing as well by looking at where Thanksgiving began and asking all of our friends, family, and clients to have a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!
Where Did All These Traditions Begin?
When we think of the first Thanksgiving, we picture a long table of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a loving meal of mashed potatoes, cranberries, and turkey! Most likely, That’s not what it looked like! In fact, venison was probably the main course. Thanksgiving was first presented to the U.S government by Sarah Joseph Hale (1788-1879) who also urged families to make the Turkey a part of the traditional meal. By 1863, Abraham Lincoln implemented the proposal and that’s where it all began! Now we have traditions like the Macy’s Day Parade, which started in 1924 (originally known as the “Macy’s Christmas Parade”), NFL Football games (dating back to 1934 when the Detroit Lions agreed to play on Thanksgiving Day), and Holiday shopping sprees or sales which tend to be the largest event of the weekend! Traditions both young and old bring us together on this American Holiday, but according to history what truly unites us is the food!
For thousands of years it’s been recorded that “breaking bread together” is one of the strongest forms of unifying people together. At Miller’s Insurance Agency, we continue to join with the community for dinner events to educate our clients and friends about the services that we offer. Whether you are preparing the stuffing, baking the pies, or simply enjoying the feast, it all brings us together and that’s when we see smiles fill the room. Take the time to enjoy one another during this season and be sure to participate in the meal!
Watch Out For Exploding Turkeys!
Yes, the meal is one of the most exciting parts of the Thanksgiving holiday, but it has also struck a nerve with the Insurance Industry as one of the most dangerous holidays in the kitchen! According to the National Fire Protection Agency every year deep-fryers are responsible for 900 house fires and more than $15million in property damage! “Indoors these grease flames can easily catch homes on fire, cause severe burns, and, if nothing else, will ruin your Thanksgiving Turkey.” (Tenney, G. (2011).) Although these exciting deep-fryers promise a juicy and sweet delicious Turkey, they are one of the greatest hazards on Thanksgiving. In fact, cooking related claims more than double on Thanksgiving Day. Furthermore, these deep-fryers have caused so much alarm that the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) took away its approval label from them on the Market in 2010. Kosloff, A. (2015)
Here are a few ways to stay safe while frying your Turkey:
- Be sure that your turkey is fully thawed through before placing it in the deep-fryer! An icy Turkey can cause more than average grease splatter and in-turn lead to more fires.
- Limit the amount of oil used to fry your Turkey! Most deep-fryers come with explicit instructions, but we tend to only use the deep-fryer once a year. Take a moment to read over the instructions this year and be sure to place the correct amount of oil in your fryer.
- Ensure that your deep-fryer is outdoors while in use. Many instances of house fires or garage fires were reported because a deep-fryer was placed too close to a home or under a garage.
In order to enjoy that Turkey, take the necessary steps to ensure you and your property is safe before you turn on the deep-fryer.
On behalf of the entire Miller’s Insurance Agency staff we wish all of our family, friends, and community a very safe and happy holiday. We hope that your homes are filled with long lasting traditions and memories this year! Be sure to take a moment to give thanks and remember to be safe when frying up that Turkey!
References
Tenney, G. (2011). Dangers of Deep Fried Turkey. Food & Drink Articles. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/11/22/dangers-deep-fried-turkey/
Kosloff, A. (2015) Turkey Frying Traditions Boost Home Insurance Claims On Thanksgiving. Homeowners Insurance Articles. Retrieved from http://netquote.com/home-insurance/thanksgiving-home-insurance-claims
Hallowell, B. (2013). The History Behind 5 Thanksgiving Traditions Americans Love. Stories. Retrieved from http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/28/5-thanksgiving-traditions-americans-love-a-brief-history-of-turkey-wishbones-football-and-more/