Thanksgiving History
Which U.S. President made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863?
Abraham Lincoln
What bird was Benjamin Franklin rumored to prefer as the national bird of the United States instead of the bald eagle?
Turkey
Which U.S. city hosts the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
New York City
Which long-running cartoon family has a famous Thanksgiving episode featuring a disastrous turkey and Homer trying to fix it?
The Simpsons
In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on which day of the week?
Thursday
What year is commonly cited as the year of the “first Thanksgiving” celebrated by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag?
1621
Which traditional Thanksgiving side dish is made from bread cubes mixed with herbs, broth, and vegetables (and sometimes cooked inside the turkey)?
Stuffing/ Dressing
Which two NFL teams are traditionally known for almost always playing on Thanksgiving Day?
The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys
Which popular 1990s sitcom has several iconic Thanksgiving episodes, including one where a character gets a turkey stuck on their head?
Friends
In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in which month?
October
Which Native American tribe shared the first Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims in Plymouth?
The Wampanoag
What orange vegetable is commonly made into a sweet pie served at Thanksgiving?
What is the term for the day after Thanksgiving that is known for huge retail sales?
Black Friday
In the Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, which character makes a very unusual Thanksgiving meal of toast, popcorn, and jelly beans?
Charlie Brown
What do we call the loose skin that hangs from a turkey’s neck?
From which country did the Pilgrims primarily come before sailing on the Mayflower?
England
Which berry sauce is a classic Thanksgiving side and is often served as either jellied or whole-berry?
What is the name of the informal Thanksgiving event where friends gather to share a meal, often separate from family celebrations?
Friendsgiving
Which classic holiday film begins with scenes from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a Santa who claims to be the real one?
Miracle on 34th Street
What is the name given to the “extra” Thanksgiving meal of leftovers, often made into sandwiches, enjoyed later that night or the next day?
Turkey leftovers / turkey sandwiches / “leftover feast” (any variation works; often just called leftovers)
Which woman campaigned for decades to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, earning the nickname “Mother of Thanksgiving”?
Sarah Josepha Hale
Green bean casserole traditionally includes green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and what crunchy topping?
Fried Onions
What is the name of the Presidential tradition where a turkey is spared from being eaten each year?
The turkey pardon (Presidential turkey pardon)
Which family-friendly dog character has been a giant balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade many times, often wearing aviator goggles?
Snoopy
Many people watch a Thanksgiving Day parade and football, but another competitive Thanksgiving tradition on TV is the “National Dog Show.” What kind of animals compete in it? (answer cannot just be dogs)
Dogs (purebred dogs in various breeds)