Continuing a holiday tradition many say dates back to Abraham Lincoln, President Joe Biden gave two turkeys a Presidential Pardon this year. The two lucky turkeys were named Peanut Butter and Jelly, with Peanut Butter being the primary pardoned turkey, and Jelly being the Official Thanksgiving Turkey (Neither will be eaten). Generally, only one turkey is pardoned, and the other is the backup, but this year, President Biden pardoned both. The two lucky turkeys came from a farm in Jasper, Indiana, and will live the rest of their days in comfort at the Animal Sciences Research and Education Farm at Purdue University, continuing the tradition of sending them to a farm.

Officially, JFK was the first to pardon a turkey, but Lincoln was the start of the tradition to send the White House turkeys in the 1870’s. George H. W. Bush was the first to do it ceremoniously, when he assured spectators that the turkey in question would not end up on anyone’s table, as he had been granted a pardon. Historically, the ceremony is held in the Rose Garden.

Many presidents have used this as a PR type move, and Obama used to used it to show off his dad jokes. Biden joked about them being chosen for their vaccination status. Biden asked Peanut Butter to say something and got a, “Gobble Gobble,” in return.