Feast Facts
What is the common name for the side dish made of bread or cornbread that is baked inside or alongside the turkey?
Stuffing (or Dressing)
What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620?
The Mayflower
The red, fleshy part that hangs from the turkey's neck.
The wattle
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ends with the arrival of this festive character.
Santa Claus
Which 1990s TV sitcom featured many famous Thanksgiving-themed episodes, including one with a runaway turkey on Joey's head?
Friends
Which common Thanksgiving dessert is technically a fruit from the gourd family, along with cucumbers and squash?
Pumpkin (in pumpkin pie)
The name of the Native American who famously acted as an interpreter and guide to the Pilgrims.
Squanto (or Tisquantum)
What is a male turkey called?
A tom (or a gobbler)
The two NFL teams that traditionally host a game every single Thanksgiving Day.
The Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions
The common, aromatic spice that gives many Thanksgiving dishes, especially pumpkin pie, its distinctive brown color and flavor.
Cinnamon
The essential component of the sauce that turns the pan drippings into a thick, savory topping.
Flour or cornstarch (the thickening agent)
The first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 lasted for this many days.
Three days
The term for the process of a president officially sparing a turkey from being eaten.
The Presidential Pardon
The street in Manhattan where the Macy's parade officially begins.
Central Park West
The common cooking term for lightly and quickly frying vegetables like onions and celery before adding them to stuffing.
Sautéing
What is the main, naturally occurring sugar found in cranberries, making them quite tart?
Benzoic acid
What year did President Abraham Lincoln declare Thanksgiving a national holiday?
1863
When roasting a turkey, this kitchen tool is used to suck up and redistribute pan juices over the bird.
A baster
The popular term for the day after Thanksgiving, known for massive retail sales.
Black Friday
According to the classic song, which seasonal fruit is "roasting on an open fire," even though the song is more associated with Christmas?
Chestnuts
Besides turkey, which other main meat was likely available and potentially served at the first Thanksgiving in 1621?
Deer/Venison
This prominent magazine editor and writer is often credited with campaigning for decades to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Sarah Josepha Hale
The meat from the turkey's chest is known by this color, while the meat from the legs and thighs is known by this other color.
White meat and dark meat
A Wishbone is broken by two people to predict which person will have their wish granted based on which piece they hold, but it is technically a part of the turkey's anatomy. What is its scientific name?
The furcula
The chemical compound responsible for the drowsy feeling often attributed to eating too much turkey (though this effect is largely exaggerated).
Tryptophan