According to Reuters, US President Joe Biden performed a pardoning ceremony for two white turkeys named Peach and Blossom at the White House on November 25.
This is an annual traditional ceremony to kick off the holiday season in the US (Christmas and New Year) and is also the last time Mr. Joe Biden does this at the White House.
The two turkeys are named after the peach blossom, which represents recovery and is one of the state flowers of Delaware - President Joe Biden's home state.
The ceremony took place on the South Lawn of the White House and the US President gave a speech interspersed with the gurgling of two turkeys in front of 2,500 attendees.
“This officially kicks off the holiday season in Washington. This is also the last time I will speak here as president during this holiday season to express my gratitude. So let me tell you this — this is the greatest honor of my life and I am forever grateful,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden quipped that Peach weighs 42 pounds, enjoys American stew and hash browns, and dreams of seeing the northern lights. Blossom, meanwhile, weighs 40 pounds, enjoys cheeseburgers and watching boxing.
The current tradition of pardoning turkeys dates back to 1947, under President Harry Truman. However, the formal ceremony did not begin until 1989 at the White House, when President George H.W. Bush issued the first official pardon.
On the same day, Mr. Biden traveled to Staten Island in New York to attend a Thanksgiving dinner with friends, where the President and his wife, Jill Biden, thanked members of the US Coast Guard and their families for their dedication to the country.
