History
Before becoming known as “Pilgrims,” this group was commonly called…
A) The Separatists
B) The Independents
C) The Reformers
D) The Puritans
The Separatists! This term was used because they believed they had to separate from the Church of England to practice their religion freely.
What do you call a baby domestic turkey?
A poult. This is the term for a young bird (most commonly a turkey). Poultry is the general term for any domesticated bird raised for meat or eggs
What bread is most commonly used as the base for traditional stuffing?
White bread cubes
What giant balloon was the first character balloon ever featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1931)?
A) Mickey Mouse
B) Felix the Cat
C) Popeye
D) Betty Boop
Felix the Cat
Which Indigenous nation is most commonly associated with helping the Pilgrims during the first Thanksgiving?
A) Apache
B) Navajo
C) Wampanoag
D) Cherokee
Wampanoag
The Pilgrims originally set sail for Virginia but ended up in which area instead?
A) Cape Cod
B) Chesapeake Bay
C) Long Island
D) Delaware Bay
Cape Cod - They were blown off course by storms
Wild turkeys can actually…
A) Swim
B) Fly short distances
C) Run up to 20 mph
D) All of the above
All of the above!
Which ingredient was added to traditional green bean casserole to make it popular in the 1950s?
A) Soy sauce
B) Cream of mushroom soup
C) Cheddar cheese
D) Mayonnaise
Cream of mushroom soup
Before helium balloons, what did Macy’s use in the parade?
A) Painted wagons
B) Giant papier-mâché puppets
C) Live animals
D) Inflatable arches
Live zoo animals from Central Park Zoo
In the Bhutanese Bon festival “Choku,” what is traditionally offered to spirits and ancestors as part of agricultural thanksgiving?
Specially prepared ritual foods
In 1939, FDR moved Thanksgiving one week earlier to help the economy, creating what nickname for that year’s holiday?
A) Earlygiving
B) Shiftsgiving
C) Franksgiving
D) The New Thanksgiving
Franksgiving - a portmanteau of "Franklin" and "Thanksgiving," coined by critics who mockingly dubbed the holiday.
Which turkey body part changes color based on emotion (stress/excitement)?
A) Head and neck
B) Tail feathers
C) Feet
D) Wings
Head and neck.
When a turkey is calm, its head is typically pale; when it is excited or stressed, the skin can turn blue or bright red!
Which of these Thanksgiving dishes was invented as a marketing recipe in the 1950s?
A) Sweet potato casserole
B) Green bean casserole
C) Cornbread
D) Pecan pie
Green bean casserole
From 2005 to 2009, pardoned turkeys got the VIP treatment and were sent to…
A) Disneyland & Disney World
B) The White House
C) Central Park Zoo
D) Thanksgiving Day Parade HQ
Disneyland and Disney World!
There, they served as the honorary grand marshals for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
What Jewish festival is celebrated by eating outdoors in temporary shelters to commemorate the harvest and ancient wanderings?
A) Hanukkah
B) Passover
C) Sukkot
D) Purim
Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths.
These temporary shelters are called sukkahs and they eat in them to commemorate the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the desert.
The Pilgrims crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower. What other ship was originally supposed to accompany them, but leaked too badly to sail?
A) The Swan
B) The Speedwell
C) The Providence
D) The Liberty
The Speedwell - After two attempts to make the voyage, it was deemed unseaworthy.
The fleshy flap of skin over a turkey’s beak is called a:
A) Wattle
B) Snood
C) Comb
D) Crest
Snood!
A comb is the fleshy structure on top of a chicken's head, a wattle is a flap of skin on the throat, and a crest refers to the feathers on the top of their head
Why do some bakers add vodka to pie crust?
For a flakier and more tender crust.
The alcohol inhibits gluten development, which helps prevent the crust from becoming tough.
Which character has appeared more times than any other in parade history?
A) SpongeBob
B) Snoopy
C) Mickey Mouse
D) Garfield
Snoopy!
During China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, what fruit is commonly used as decoration and offerings?
A. Pineapple
B. Grapes
C. Pomegranate
D. Pomelo
Pomelo
Its round shape represents the full moon, and its name sounds similar to words meaning "blessing" and "family reunion"
Multiple diseases caused severe hardship for the Pilgrims during their first winter in 1620–1621, including...
A) Smallpox
B) Measles
C) Scurvy
D) Influenza
Scurvy - this was caused by a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet, which was heavy in salt from the sea voyage
Which unusual skill do wild turkeys have that surprises many people?
A) They can swim
B) They can see in color
C) They can recognize human faces
D) They can mimic sounds
They can recognize human faces.
Turkeys can remember and distinguish between different people, even after long periods of time. They can also associate certain individuals with positive or negative experiences .They also have complex social structures and can remember more than 30 individual turkeys, recognizing them by voice alone!
Why does a turkey often cook faster when it’s spatchcocked?
A) More air circulates around the bird
B) The bones heat the meat
C) It absorbs heat from the tray
D) It loses moisture
More air circulates around the bird
Removing the backbone and flattening the bird exposes more surface area for even heating and reduces the overall thickness, allowing it to roast in less time and to cook more evenly.
How many handlers does a standard modern Macy’s Parade balloon typically require?
On average, about 80-100
Which Caribbean nation celebrates a Thanksgiving-like holiday called “Crop Over,” featuring music and colorful costumes?
A) Jamaica
B) Barbados
C) Dominican Republic
D) Haiti
Barbados
The festival marks the end of the sugar cane harvest and has evolved into a large, months-long national celebration featuring calypso and soca music, parades with elaborate costumes, and street festivals!