🦃Turkey Tall Tales
True or False: Eating turkey makes you sleepy because of tryptophan?
False
(It's actually the massive amounts of carbs and overeating that make you drowsy. Turkey has the same amount of tryptophan as chicken, but nobody blames their chicken dinner for nap time!)
In the TV show "Friends," what dessert does Rachel accidentally make with beef and peas?
A trifle
What kitchen disaster is the #1 cause of Thanksgiving house fires?
Deep frying turkeys
What topic causes the most Thanksgiving dinner arguments according to surveys?
Politics
In Rosemead, California, what utensil is ILLEGAL to eat ice cream with?
A fork
(According to a local ordinance, ice cream cannot be eaten with a fork in Rosemead, California. The origins of this bizarre law remain a mystery, but violators could technically face a fine!)
Did the Pilgrims actually eat turkey at the first Thanksgiving?
Probably not
(Historical records from 1621 mention "fowl" which likely meant ducks, geese, and swans. They also ate venison, seafood like lobster and mussels, and corn. Turkey became the Thanksgiving staple much later in American history.)
In "The Simpsons," what does Marge typically forget to do that causes Thanksgiving stress?
Thaw the turkey
What celebrity set their kitchen on fire and singed their hair while lighting the oven on Thanksgiving?
Jimmy Kimmel
(The late-night host shared a photo on Instagram showing burn marks on his hair and eyebrows that he sustained while lighting his oven during Thanksgiving 2021.)
What's the most passive-aggressive dish to bring to Thanksgiving?
Store-bought pie with the price tag still on
In what state is it illegal to use fireworks to scare turkeys?
Arkansas
(It is illegal unless you have a specific permit for agricultural or industrial purposes.)
True or False: Turkeys are completely flightless birds?
False
(Wild turkeys can actually fly up to 55 mph in short bursts and roost in trees at night. Domestic turkeys bred for eating are too heavy to fly because they've been selectively bred for large breast meat.)
What sitcom features a "Slapsgiving" episode where characters bet on slapping each other?
How I Met Your Mother
What year did the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade have a balloon crash into a lamppost, injuring spectators?
1997 (the Cat in the Hat balloon)
What state has the highest average number of Thanksgiving arguments?
Oregon
(average of 4 arguments per Thanksgiving day)
In what state is it technically illegal to serve margarine instead of butter at restaurants?
Wisconsin
(It is technically illegal to serve margarine instead of butter at restaurants in Wisconsin, unless the customer specifically requests it. This law though rarely enforced, is a vestige of the state's efforts to protect its dairy industry. )
True or False: Can turkeys drown by looking up at the rain?
False
(This is a popular myth likely originated from a misunderstanding of why domestic turkeys might die in storms, which can be due to panicking and piling up, or, for young and undeveloped turkeys, a lack of proper insulation leading to hypothermia)
In "Addams Family Values," what does Wednesday Addams do at the Thanksgiving play?
She leads a rebellion and burns down the set
How many people go to the ER on Thanksgiving for knife-related injuries?
About 3,000 annually
According to relationship experts, what's the #1 trigger for couple fights on Thanksgiving?
Unequal division of labor (one partner doing all the work)
What ridiculous law exists in Pennsylvania related to Thanksgiving cleaning?
It's against the law to sweep dirt and dust under a rug
True or False: Did Native Americans teach Pilgrims to put fish in corn planting holes?
True
(The Wampanoag showed colonists this agricultural technique where small fish were buried in planting holes to fertilize corn crops. This method significantly improved their harvest yields and helped them survive.)
In "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," what does Snoopy serve for dinner besides toast and popcorn?
Pretzel sticks and jelly beans
What Food Network star created a "fireball of flames" and melted his flip-flop with his deep-fried turkey?
Guy Fieri
What percentage of families have a "weird uncle" story from Thanksgiving?
Nearly 60% admit to having that one relative
In what state is it illegal to hunt roosting turkeys "by any means at any time"?
Texas
(Texas law specifically prohibits hunting turkeys while they're roosting, considering it unsporting. Violators face fines and potential loss of hunting privileges.)