Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 in Plymouth, Mass., but didn’t become a national holiday until 1863 under Abraham Lincoln. And Franklin D. Roosevelt officially commemorated Thanksgiving to be the fourth Thursday of every November. A common misconception is that turkey was served at the first feast, but it likely wasn’t on the menu, but seafood was. Modern traditions such as football, pumpkin pie, and even the TV dinner have roots in Thanksgiving, while lesser-known facts include the origin of “Jingle Bells” as a Thanksgiving song and that only male turkeys gobble.
20 fun Thanksgiving Facts to amuse your friends and family at your holiday dinner:
1. How many guests do those hosting Thanksgiving dinner usually have on average
Answer: 11
2. When did A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving premiere?
Answer: 1973
3. According to a survey, what are people most thankful for on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Family, health, and life.
4. Which football teams always play on Thanksgiving Day?
The Detroit Lions and The Dallas Cowboys
5. What did the balloons take the place of when introduced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Answer: Live zoo animals
6. According to AAA, approximately how many Americans take to the roads on Thanksgiving?
Answer: 50 million
7. What was the first character balloon in the Macy’s Parade?
Answer: Felix the Cat
8. According to Merriam-Webster, when was the term “Friendsgiving” first circulated?
Answer: 2007
9. Which country celebrates a version of Thanksgiving in October?
Answer: Canada
10. Which tradition brings good luck at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Breaking the wishbone
11. How many cranberries are needed to make one can of cranberry sauce?
Answer: About 200
12. Are pumpkins considered a vegetable?
Answer: No, they’re a fruit
13. The largest pumpkin pie weighed how many pounds?
Answer: 3,699 pounds
14. Statistically, what is Americans’ favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Answer: Stuffing
15. According to a poll, what Thanksgiving side dish is the least popular among Americans?
Answer: Green bean casserole
16. Which type of food was eaten at the first Thanksgiving but is hardly eaten at Thanksgiving today?
Answer: Seafood
17. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, how much does the heaviest turkey on record weigh?
Answer: 86 pounds
18. Which state produces the most turkeys?
Answer: Minnesota
19. How many turkeys are prepared for Thanksgiving in America each year?
Answer: 46 million
20. Which city is home to the oldest Thanksgiving parade?
Answer: Philadelphia
We would love to see your Thanksgiving Table! Please send us pictures of your gathering to be featuring in the bonus November issue of the Breeze. Don’t forget to tell us who was at your table.
