Turkey
A male turkey is called:
A.Tom
B.Barry
C.Sam
D.Bart
A.Tom
Male turkeys are larger than females. They also have red and blue faces, whereas female turkey faces are brown.
According to a study in 2004, what is America’s favorite kind of pie?
A.Apple
B.Pumpkin
C.Pecan
D.Chocolate
A. Apple
One in four Americans named apple pie as their favorite. Pumpkin pie came in second place, and chocolate pie was third.
Which U.S. president declared Thanksgiving an official holiday, celebrated on the last Thursday of November?
A.Barack Obama
B.George W. Bush
C.George Washington
D.Abraham Lincoln
D. Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official holiday in 1863. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the official date to the fourth Thursday in November in order to extend the Christmas shopping season.
According to a 2017 survey of US families, what US state has the highest number of children per family?
A.Texas
B.California
C.Utah
D.Nevada
C. Utah
The average number of children per family in Utah is 2.32 children. New Hampshire has the lowest number of children, with 1.73 children per family
How do the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and America’s Thanksgiving Parade end every year?
A.Fireworks show
B.Christmas concert
C.The releasing of all the balloons
D.Arrival of Santa Claus
D. Arrival of Santa Claus
The parade used to end with the releasing of the balloons, but that practice ended in 1932 after a plane nearly crashed trying to retrieve a balloon.
The “wattle” is located on a turkey’s…
A.Foot
B.Tail
C.Neck
D.Wing
C. Neck
The wattle is the fleshy growth under the turkey’s throat. The snood is the flesh that hangs from the turkey’s forehead and covers its bill.
Other than pumpkins, name one ingredient commonly found in pumpkin pie.
Answers will vary, but might include:
Sugar (white or brown)
Flour
Egg
Pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger)
Milk (regular, sweetened condensed, or evaporated)
Which president started the annual tradition of giving a turkey an official presidential pardon?
A. Ronald Reagan
B. George W. Bush
C. Bill Clinton
D. Barack Obama
A. Ronald Reagan
Other presidents before Reagan sometimes pardoned turkeys, but it was not an annual tradition until Reagan did it in 1981. Every president since Reagan has continued the tradition.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is famous for shopping and sales. This Friday sales day is called ____.
A. Thankful Friday
B. Big Friday
C. Credit Card Friday
D. Black Friday
D. Black Friday
In recent years, some stores are opening to shoppers on Thanksgiving Day. This is called Gray Thursday.
Where is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade held every year?
A. Chicago
B. New York City
C. Los Angeles
D. Dallas
B. New York City
The first Macy’s parade was held in 1924.
Which country eats the most turkey per capita (per person)?
A.United States
B.France
C.United Kingdom
D.Israel
D. Israel
Israelis eat an average of 11.5 kg (25 pounds) of turkey per year. The US is in second place, with the average person consuming 7.7 kg (about 17 pounds) of turkey each year.
Which of the following is a major ingredient in meringue?
A. egg yolks
B. egg whites
C. egg shells
D. chicken
B. Egg whites
Meringue is the fluffy white topping on lemon meringue pie, Key lime pie, and macarons. It is made primarily of whipped egg whites and sugar.
When is Canada’s Thanksgiving Day?
A. Same day as the USA
B. 2nd Monday in October
C. December 13th
D. 3rd Saturday in April
B. Second Monday in October
Similar to the US holiday, Thanksgiving in Canada originated in colonial times. It also celebrates the harvest, peace, and blessings throughout the year.
Name one football team that will play this year (2019) on Thanksgiving Day.
Acceptable answers:
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Buffalo Bills
Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons
What gas causes gigantic balloons like this one to rise into the air?
A. oxygen
B. nitrogen
C. hydrogen
D. helium
D. Helium
Helium weighs a lot less than air, which allows the balloons—which are quite heavy—to float.
This V-shaped turkey bone is called the furcula. If you find it in your turkey, you can use it to make a wish.
What is it more commonly known as?
The wishbone!
The wishbone is located between the turkey’s neck and breast. All birds have a wishbone, which helps birds to fly.
Key lime pie is made with Key limes, which must grow in a warm, sunny location. Where do Key limes get their name?
A.Keystone, Colorado
B.Kiev, Ukraine
C.Key West, Florida
D.Car keys
C. Key West, Florida
Key limes are not green, but yellow! Key limes grow best in warm locations including: Texas, Florida, California, and Central and South America.
The NFL has played Thanksgiving Day games since 1920 EXCEPT for three years. From 1941-1944, no NFL games were played on Thanksgiving.
Why not?
A.People had gotten bored with football.
B.WWII was happening.
C.The NFL players were on strike.
D.The NFL had run out of money.
B. WWII was happening.
Since the 1960s, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys games have become Thanksgiving Day staples.
The day before Thanksgiving is typically the busiest day for what?
A.Air travel
B.School plays
C.People to move houses
D.Ski resorts
A. Air travel
The best day to fly during Thanksgiving week is on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
From 1942-1944, the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day parade was canceled due to a shortage of:
A.People to watch the parade
B.Money to run the parade
C.Helium and rubber
D.Copper and chlorine
C. Helium and rubber
This was due to rationing during WWII. Those three years are the only three times this famous parade has ever been canceled.
Turkey contains an amino acid called tryptophan. How does tryptophan affect people who eat turkey?
A. makes people eat too much
B. makes people sleepy
C. makes people burp
D. makes people crave sugar
B. Makes people sleepy.
Other foods that contain tryptophan include: chicken, eggs, peanuts, fish, cheese, tofu, chocolate, and sesame seeds.
In colonial America, pumpkin pie was baked inside…
A.Flower pots
B.Pumpkin shells
C.Chamber pots
D.Horse shoes
B. Pumpkin shells
Because chamber pots would be a very unsanitary way to bake a pumpkin pie!
The first Thanksgiving was
held in which year?
A.1621
B.1776
C.1899
D.1995
A. 1621
The feast is said to have lasted three days and included the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.
The Monday after Thanksgiving tends to be a big day for online shopping and sales. What is this day called?
A.Big Monday
B.Manic Monday
C.Black Monday
D.Cyber Monday
D. Cyber Monday
On this day, people shop online from work. Many online retailers offer deals on Cyber Monday.
At what time does the parade start each year?
A.9am
B.Noon
C.3pm
D.6pm
A. 9am
People start lining up along the parade route around 6am to ensure they get a good spot. You can avoid the crowds (and having to travel!) by watching the parade at home on TV.