Turkey Facts
This famous American suggested that the turkey would make a better national symbol than the bald eagle, because the bald eagle was "a bird of bad moral character" and "a rank coward," while the turkey was "in comparison a much more respectable bird."
Who is Benjamin Franklin?
In the classic 1973 cartoon short, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, this character invites themself and their friends to Charlie's house, providing the catalyst for the disastrous Thanksgiving meal of toast, popcorn and jellybeans.
Who is Peppermint Patty?
This staple food was likely the first foods to be introduced to Europe from North America. Served at the first Thanksgiving, it's likely the Pilgrims were as familiar with this food as their Native American guests.
What is a pumpkin?
This US president was the first to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Who is Abraham Lincoln?
This year saw the coldest Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, at 19 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is 2018?
The color of turkey eggs.
What is tan?
While several other presidents had pardoned Thanksgiving turkeys in the past, this US president instituted the pardoning of a turkey as a yearly tradition.
Who is George H. W. Bush?
In 2019, this food manufacturer broke the Guiness World Record for the largest green bean casserole, which weighed 1,009 lbs.
What is Green Giant?
What is 1621?
Replacing the "Turkey Leg" in 2002, this is the nickname of the Thanksgiving Day award offered to the MVP of the game since 1989.
What is the Galloping Gobbler?
Indigenous people from this country were the first to domesticate turkeys and use them for food and sacrificial purposes.
What is Mexico?
The name used to describe the tradition of breaking a wishbone in England.
Merrythought
This state produces both the most sweet potatoes and the most turkeys in the US.
What is North Carolina?
This native group, whose home included parts of what is now known as Massachusetts and Rhode Island, feasted with the Pilgrims during the first Thanksgiving celebration.
Who are the Wampanoag?
This year marked the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, 2 years after R. H. Macy's & Co. opened its doors in Manhattan's Herald Square.
What is 1924?
The name of the loose skin attached to the underside of a turkey's beak. When the male turkey is excited, especially during mating season, the wattle turns a scarlet red.
What is a wattle?
Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the final Thursday of November every year. This is the day on which Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated.
What is 2nd Monday of October?
Another name for cranberries, first made into sauce by First Nations communities and often served at holiday meals.
What are bounceberries?
This man was kidnapped in 1614 by English explorer Thomas Hunt, who brought him to Spain where he was sold into slavery. He escaped, eventually returning to the Patuxet region near Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he acted as an interpreter between the Pilgrims and tribal leaders.
Who is Squanto (aka Tisquantum)?
As of 2021, this NFL team has the most wins on Thanksgiving (37), as well as the most losses (42).
What is the Detroit Lions?
The scientific name for the "wishbone".
What is a Furcula?
This US President was the only Founding Father who refused to declare days of thanksgiving and fasting in the United States, believing that endorsing such celebrations as president would amount to a state-sponsored religious worship.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
Americans typically eat about 22 million turkeys on Christmas Day every year. This is the average number of turkeys eaten by Americans on Thanksgiving.
What is 46 million?
This woman launched a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For 36 years, she published numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other politicians, earning her the nickname the “Mother of Thanksgiving.” She also authored the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
Who is Sarah Josepha Hale?
Who is Felix the Cat?