50 Fun Facts About Thanksgiving

In what month is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?

Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving in October.

What is the traditional main dish served at a Thanksgiving dinner?

Turkey is the traditional centerpiece of a Thanksgiving dinner. An estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving in the United States.

Which Native American tribe helped the Pilgrims survive their first winter and participated in the first Thanksgiving?

The Wampanoag people, led by Massasoit, taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate crops and helped them survive. They participated in the 1621 harvest celebration.

What ship brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620?

The Mayflower carried 102 passengers from Plymouth, England to the New World in 1620. The voyage took approximately 66 days.

What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving Day parade held in New York City?

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a tradition since 1924. It features giant character balloons, floats, marching bands, and performances.

What side dish is made from mashing boiled potatoes with butter and milk?

Mashed potatoes are one of the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes. They are often served with gravy made from turkey drippings.

What sport is traditionally watched on Thanksgiving Day in the United States?

NFL football games on Thanksgiving Day have been a tradition since 1934, when the Detroit Lions hosted the first Thanksgiving Day game.

What cranberry-based side dish is a staple at most Thanksgiving tables?

Cranberry sauce, whether homemade or canned, is a Thanksgiving staple. About 80 million pounds of cranberries are consumed during Thanksgiving week.

In what year is the first Thanksgiving celebration between Pilgrims and Wampanoag traditionally said to have taken place?

The first Thanksgiving is traditionally dated to the autumn of 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was a three-day harvest celebration.

What dessert, made with a spiced custard filling in a pastry crust, is the most iconic Thanksgiving dessert?

Pumpkin pie is the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert. The tradition dates back to early colonial times when pumpkins were abundant in New England.

What is the day after Thanksgiving commonly known as?

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. The term originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s.

In what present-day U.S. state did the Pilgrims land and establish Plymouth Colony?

The Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December 1620.

Which U.S. president officially proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday?

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 during the Civil War, designating the last Thursday of November for its observance.

What is the loose skin hanging from a turkey's neck called?

The wattle is the fleshy, red skin that hangs from a turkey's neck. The snood is the fleshy protuberance on top of the beak.

What Thanksgiving tradition involves the U.S. president sparing a turkey from being eaten?

The presidential turkey pardon became an annual tradition. While presidents received turkeys for decades, George H.W. Bush formalized the pardon in 1989.

Which NFL team has hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1934?

The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game annually since 1934, making it one of the longest-running traditions in the NFL.

What was the name of the Wampanoag man who spoke English and served as an interpreter between the Pilgrims and his people?

Squanto (Tisquantum) had learned English after being captured and taken to Europe years earlier. He taught the Pilgrims to plant corn and catch fish.

Which woman campaigned for decades to make Thanksgiving a national holiday and is sometimes called the 'Mother of Thanksgiving'?

Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book, campaigned for 17 years writing letters to presidents before Lincoln finally proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

In what country is Thanksgiving also celebrated, but on the second Monday of October?

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. Canadian Thanksgiving has roots in European harvest festivals brought by early settlers.

What bread-based Thanksgiving side dish is made by cubing and seasoning bread, then baking it inside or alongside a turkey?

Stuffing (or dressing when cooked outside the bird) is a classic Thanksgiving side dish. Recipes vary regionally, with Southern versions often using cornbread.

Which U.S. president moved Thanksgiving one week earlier in 1939 to extend the holiday shopping season, causing controversy?

FDR moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday of November in 1939 to help stimulate the economy during the Great Depression. Congress fixed it to the fourth Thursday in 1941.

Approximately how many turkeys are consumed in the United States on Thanksgiving each year?

Americans consume approximately 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving Day, making it the largest turkey-consuming day of the year by far.

Which of these foods was most likely NOT present at the first Thanksgiving in 1621?

Pumpkin pie was not at the first Thanksgiving because the Pilgrims lacked the butter, flour, and ovens needed for pastry. They may have stewed pumpkin, but not in pie form.

What vegetable casserole, topped with fried onions, became a Thanksgiving staple after being created by a Campbell's Soup Company employee in 1955?

Green bean casserole was invented by Dorcas Reilly at Campbell's Soup in 1955. It combines green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions.

What annual event, first held in 1896, takes place on Thanksgiving morning in many American cities?

Turkey trots are fun runs or races held on Thanksgiving morning. The oldest, in Buffalo, New York, has been held since 1896 and attracts thousands of runners.

What is the name of the document signed by the Pilgrims before they disembarked the Mayflower, establishing self-governance?

The Mayflower Compact, signed on November 11, 1620, was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It established a framework for self-government.

Which state produces the most turkeys in the United States?

Minnesota is the top turkey-producing state in the U.S., raising approximately 40 million turkeys per year, followed by North Carolina and Arkansas.

What popular Thanksgiving side dish is made from sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows?

Sweet potato casserole, often topped with toasted marshmallows or a pecan streusel, became popular in the early 1900s and is now a Thanksgiving staple, especially in the South.

Benjamin Franklin reportedly wanted which bird to be the national symbol of the United States instead of the bald eagle?

In a letter to his daughter, Franklin expressed displeasure with the eagle choice and praised the turkey as a 'much more respectable Bird' and a 'true original Native of America.'

What is the term for the period of heavy travel the day before Thanksgiving, often the busiest travel day of the year?

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, often called Thanksgiving Eve, consistently ranks among the busiest travel days in the U.S. with millions hitting the roads and airports.

Which NFL team joined the Detroit Lions in hosting annual Thanksgiving Day games starting in 1966?

The Dallas Cowboys began their Thanksgiving Day game tradition in 1966. Along with the Detroit Lions, they are the two teams most associated with Thanksgiving football.

What animated TV special, first airing in 1973, features Charlie Brown trying to cook Thanksgiving dinner for his friends?

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving first aired on CBS in 1973. In the special, Charlie Brown prepares toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans for his guests.

What popular post-Thanksgiving sandwich is made with leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce?

The Gobbler (or Thanksgiving sandwich) layers leftover turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and sometimes gravy on bread. It's one of the most popular ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers.

What is the fleshy protuberance that hangs over a male turkey's beak called?

The snood is the fleshy appendage that dangles over a turkey's beak. It can change color and size based on the turkey's mood and health. The wattle hangs from the neck.

In what year did the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first take place?

The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 27, 1924. Originally called the Macy's Christmas Parade, it featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo.

Which colony held what many historians consider the first Thanksgiving in America in 1619, two years before Plymouth?

Berkeley Hundred in Virginia held a ceremony of thanksgiving on December 4, 1619, when settlers arrived from England. However, Plymouth's 1621 celebration is the most widely recognized.

What was the name of the Wampanoag leader (sachem) who established a peace treaty with the Pilgrims that lasted over 50 years?

Massasoit (Ousamequin) was the sachem of the Wampanoag confederacy. His peace treaty with the Pilgrims in 1621 lasted until his death, after which his son Metacom (King Philip) led a war against the colonists.

The 'wishbone' tradition at Thanksgiving involves breaking which bone from the turkey?

The furcula, commonly called the wishbone, is a forked bone found in birds. Two people pull it apart, and tradition says the one with the larger piece gets their wish.

What derogatory nickname was given to FDR's 1939 decision to move Thanksgiving earlier?

Critics called FDR's controversial 1939 Thanksgiving date change 'Franksgiving.' The country was split, with some states celebrating on the original date and others on the new one.

Which Edward Winslow account, published in 1622, contains the only firsthand description of the first Thanksgiving celebration?

Mourt's Relation, published in 1622, contains Edward Winslow's letter describing the 1621 harvest feast. William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation was written later and provides less detail about the event.

What percentage of Mayflower passengers survived the first winter in Plymouth Colony?

Roughly half of the Mayflower's 102 passengers died during the first winter of 1620-1621, primarily from scurvy, exposure, and outbreaks of contagious disease.

In the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, what replaced the live zoo animals starting in 1927?

Giant helium-filled character balloons were introduced in 1927, replacing the live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Felix the Cat was among the earliest balloon characters.

Which ocean region supplies the majority of cranberries consumed at Thanksgiving, with Wisconsin and Massachusetts as top producers?

The Atlantic Northeast, particularly Wisconsin and Massachusetts, produces the vast majority of U.S. cranberries. Wisconsin alone accounts for about 60% of the nation's cranberry crop.

The Pilgrims who came on the Mayflower were members of which religious movement?

The Pilgrims were Separatists, a subset of Puritans who believed the Church of England was beyond reform and separated from it entirely. They first fled to the Netherlands before sailing to America.

What name do many Native Americans give to Thanksgiving, observing it as a day of mourning?

Since 1970, many Native Americans have observed the National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving. It honors Native ancestors and acknowledges the history of colonization and genocide.

What is the name of the condition caused by the amino acid tryptophan in turkey, often blamed for post-Thanksgiving drowsiness?

While tryptophan gets the blame, post-meal drowsiness (postprandial somnolence) is mainly caused by overeating and high carbohydrate intake. Turkey has no more tryptophan than chicken or cheese.

Which president was the first to officially pardon a Thanksgiving turkey, formalizing the tradition in 1989?

George H.W. Bush formally pardoned a turkey in 1989, making it an official annual tradition. Earlier presidents received turkeys but the formal pardon ceremony began with Bush.

How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 reportedly last?

According to Edward Winslow's account, the first Thanksgiving was a three-day harvest celebration involving about 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag people.

What is 'Turducken,' a dish that has gained popularity as a Thanksgiving alternative?

A turducken is a deboned chicken stuffed inside a deboned duck, which is then stuffed inside a deboned turkey. It was popularized by Louisiana chef Paul Prudhomme in the 1980s.

What was the original name of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when it first started in 1924?

The parade was originally called the Macy's Christmas Parade, designed to kick off the holiday shopping season. It was later renamed to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.