History
When was the first Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is celebrated in a few countries, but its origins trace back to Pilgrims and Native Americans in the US in 1621.
When was the first professional Thanksgiving gamed played?
The first professional Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1920.
More than a century ago, when Thanksgiving Day fell on November 25, six football games took place, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Non-league teams like the Elyria Athletics went up against league teams in games that counted in the standings. Football fans, whip these stats out from the results of that year's games, and you will WIN at table talk:
Who has made the most appearances of any balloon in the Macy’s Day Parade?
Snoopy has made the most appearances of any balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Forty-four years after the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Snoopy made his debut as a balloon in 1968. Throughout the years, the beagle has been represented by a total of seven balloons, making 39 appearances "on and off through 2015" before he was replaced by Charlie Brown in 2016. He returned as an astronaut for the 2019 parade, bringing his balloon total to eight.
Who wanted the turkey to be the national bird?
Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird.
In a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin wrote, "For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country...For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird." Although Franklin didn't get his wish, his letter did inspire a song in the Tony-winning musical 1776, about the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
What was the biggest rivalry in “Little Jeopardy History”?
The biggest rivalry is team Irish and team Austria
This rivalry has been going on since Christmas 2023. They always yell across the table when one gets one wrong or when they get it right.
Was turkey on the menu in 1621?
Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries (but not pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce!).
(True or False)
Pumpkin pie isn’t actually Thanksgiving’s favorite pie.
Pumpkin pie isn't actually Thanksgiving's favorite pie.
The dessert has been an important part of Thanksgiving meals since the 1700s. However, The American Pie Council is putting an end to the pumpkin vs. apple pie debate. According to its research, apple pies are America's favorite, with pumpkin coming in second place.
What was in the first Macy’s Day Parade?
The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured Central Park Zoo animals.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was originally called the "Macy's Christmas Parade" to kick off the holiday shopping season. Held in 1924, the first paradeincluded monkeys, bears, camels, and elephants borrowed from the Central Park Zoo instead of the traditional character balloons we know today.
How much was the most expensive Thanksgiving dinner cost?
(You will get points if you are in the 5,000$ range)
The most expensive Thanksgiving dinner costs $181,000. Old Homestead Steakhouse in New York City offers the country’s most expensive Thanksgiving dinner for 12 people. It includes:
Who won in the big rock-paper-scissors in Easter 2024?
Team Austria won
Team Austria defeated team Irish. When one polled Rock and the other polled Paper.
(Two Part Question)
1.Who proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday?
2.When did Thanksgiving become a national holiday
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War in an attempt to foster a sense of American unity.
Did Thanksgiving football originate from the NFL or College football?
Bonus- How many football (College and NFL) games are on Black Friday this year?
Thanksgiving football was initially a college tradition Football and Thanksgiving dates back to 1876 with a game played by Yale and Princeton. It wasn’t until 1934 that the Detroit Lions also began hosting a Thanksgiving Day game. A few decades later (1966 to be precise), the Dallas Cowboys also joined the party in 1966.
This year, there will be 3 games, with a special Black Friday game only streaming on Amazon.
What would handlers do with the ballon’s when the parade ended.
Handlers Would Just Let the Balloons Fly Away after the Parade Ended
With no plans to deflate the balloons at the finish of the parade, handlers from 1927 to 1932 would just let them fly away into the air. In the first year of their airborne release, however, the balloons quickly popped after floating high enough. They were redesigned to withstand higher altitudes in the next year, when a new aspect of the parade began.
Around how many people shopped during Cyber week in 2023?
(Points give if in the 5% range)
82% of people shopped during Cyber Week 2023. Cyber Week normally runs from the day after Thanksgiving and includes Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
What team had to say “MEOW” after the cheating scandal?
Team Uncles
Team Uncles had to say “Meow” after the pass the paper around for to see if a team got it right.
When was Thanksgiving originally celebrated?
Thanksgiving was originally celebrated in mid-October.
The first Thanksgiving celebration wasn't in November at all. In fact, some historians suggest it was held in mid-October, similar to the present-day Canadian Thanksgiving. It was President Lincoln who set the November date in order to coincide with the Pilgrims' landing on Plymouth Rock.
When did the first Turkey Trot date back to?
The first Turkey Trot dates back to the 1890s.
Buffalo, New York, was the first city to host a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning in 1896. Only six runners participated in the race that year, running on stretches of dirt road for roughly five miles.
(Two Part Question)
1. What was the Macy’s Day Parade about when it originated?
2. When was the first Macy’s Day Parade?
Macy Day’s Parade wasn’t always about floats and balloons. When the parade first began in 1924, it featured live animals like camels, elephants, bears, and monkeys borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. These animals were part of the parade until 1927 when the introduction of large character balloons replaced them, starting with the famous Felix the Cat balloon. This began the tradition of the iconic giant balloons. This switch was made partly because animals were frightening to some children, and the balloons were a entertaining alternative.
On average, how many calories do Thanksgiving meals contain?
(Points will be given if in the 500 range)
Average Thanksgiving meal contains 3,000 calories and 160 grams of fat. This estimate comes from the Calorie Control Council and covers just one serving at the dinner table. If you go back for a second serving of turkey and/or taters, expect another 500-1,000 calories on top.
(True or False)
Team Auntuncles made the game crash.
(False)
We never figure out who crashed the game in the first year.
Who is the “Mother of Thanksgiving”?
Sarah Josepha Hale was actually the "Mother of Thanksgiving."
Famous for writing "Mary Had a Little Lamb," Sarah Josepha Hale was a 19th-century writer and editor who was nicknamed the Mother (or Godmother) of Thanksgiving. The name seemed fitting after she wrote a letter to President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward in 1863 calling for the declaration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Her hope was that the holiday would help the nation heal from the trauma of the Civil War.
How do Native Americans treat Thanksgiving?
For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of personal reflection, acknowledging ancestors, and the ongoing resilience of their communities.This is especially important to keep in mind for educators when teaching about Thanksgiving in classrooms.
(Two part Question)
1. Was there a race to Capture the Free-floating Ballon’s?
2. (If yes to the first one) Why did it end?
There Was a Race to Capture the Free-floating Balloons
Once the balloons were redesigned, they were printed with a return address, and the race to discover the roving balloons was on. From 1928 to 1932, if you found a balloon and returned it to Macy’s, you’d receive a $100 reward.
The Races Ended After an Airplane’s Close Call
In 1932, an aviation student spotted a tom-cat balloon floating at 5,000 feet. Instead of avoiding the balloon, the student rammed the plane into the cat’s neck, getting it caught on the wing and sending the plane careening toward land. Thankfully, the instructor was able to take control of the plane at the last minute, saving them both. After the incident, Macy’s made the call to stop the popular balloon races.
Around how many turkeys will be consumed over Thanksgiving?
(Points will be given if in the 5 million range)
46 million turkeys will be consumed over Thanksgiving
Remember those 293 million Americans eating turkey this year? They will gobble up an estimated 46 million turkeys.
Who yelled “THAT WAS OUR POINT, WE GOT THAT RIGHT NOT JUST THEM”?
Grandpa yelled that
Grandpa yelled that in Christmas when the game went on.