THANKSGIVING TRIVIA QUESTIONS
Thanksgiving is a day of giving thanks and showing appreciation, both for our loved ones and the delicious food we can't wait to dig into once we say grace. But it's also a holiday of history, much of which we often forget about or overlook when we're too busy focusing on cooking the turkey correctly, pulling stuffing and mashed potatoes out of the oven on time and preparing the table just right with festive decorations and place settings. While waiting for the sides to cook, take some time with the kids to learn a little about the annual November celebration and the traditions that have emerged through the years with these Thanksgiving trivia fun facts.
Not only is trivia an exciting way to learn more about the history behind the holiday, but it's also an activity that will keep adults and kids engaged. Use the facts below to create a little family trivia contest where folks have to "buzz in" and submit their answers. Not sure who has after-dinner dish duty ? Now you have an easy way to decide which unlucky individuals are getting down and dirty with the clean-up.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
1. What process refers to soaking a turkey in a saltwater solution before cooking it ?
ANSWER : Brining
2. On average, how many questions does the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line field from callers during the holiday season ?
ANSWER : 100,000
3. What family does the pumpkin belong to ?
ANSWER : Cucurbitaceae
4. What four ingredients go into making a basic pie crust ?
ANSWER : Flour, salt, water and butter/shortening
5. According to Lending Tree, how many guests, on average, did Thanksgiving hosts expect to serve in 2023 ?
ANSWER : 11
6. In 1995, this popular Thanksgiving vegetable was the first to be grown in space.
ANSWER : The Potato
7. With 15 Best in Show titles, what dog breed has had the most wins at the National Dog Show (which airs on Thanksgiving Day )?
ANSWER : Wire Fox Terrier
8. Around how many calories are in a half-cup serving of bread stuffing ?
ANSWER : 118
9. In 2023, which state raised the most turkeys ?
ANSWER : Minnesota
10. How many balloons were featured in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ?
ANSWER : 25
11. According to a poll, what Thanksgiving side dish is the least popular among Americans ?
ANSWER : Green bean casserole
12. According to Merriam-Webster, when was the term "Friendsgiving" first circulated ?
ANSWER : 2007
13. Referred to as the "pumpkin capital" of the U.S., what town is home to the Libby's pumpkin canning plant ?
ANSWER : Morton, Illinois
14. What year did "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" debut on television ?
ANSWER : 1973
15. According to Macy's, roughly how many people attend the attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York each year ?
ANSWER : 3.5 million
16. How many pounds of glitter are sprinkled on Macy's Thanksgiving Parade floats and costumes ?
ANSWER : 300 pounds
17. What movie holds the record for the highest-grossing weekend in Thanksgiving history ?
ANSWER : "Frozen 2"
18. Are pumpkins technically a fruit or a vegetable ?
ANSWER : Fruit
19. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, how many places in the U.S. are named Cranberry ?
ANSWER : Five
20. According to Guinness World Records, how much does the world's largest pumpkin pie weigh ?
ANSWER : Made in 2010, the record-breaking pie weighed 3,699 lbs.
21. How many calories are in a typical holiday dinner ?
ANSWER : Approximately 3000
22. How many minutes a day does the average American (15 and older) spend eating and drinking ?
ANSWER : 67 minutes
23. What is an adult female turkey called ?
ANSWER : A Hen
24. What is an adult male turkey called ?
ANSWER : A tom
25. What temperature should a turkey be cooked to for safe eating ?
ANSWER : 165 degree F
26. What holiday was the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade commemorating ?
ANSWER : Christmas
27. What hurricane made landfall on Thanksgiving Day 2016 ?
ANSWER : Hurricane Otto
28. Which is the most popular day to shop during Thanksgiving weekend ?
ANSWER : Black Friday
29. On Thanksgiving Day 1989, what weather even disrupted the Macy's parade ?
ANSWER : Snow. On Nov 23, four inches of snow fell on the Big Apple, marking the first Thanksgiving Day storm in more than 50 years.
30. Which retailer was the first to host a Thanksgiving Day parade ?
ANSWER : Gimbels. The department store hosted a Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia in 1920, four years before Macy's held their first.
31. Which U.S. president was the first to officially pardon a turkey ?
ANSWER : George H.W. Bush. In 1989, Bush "presented a Presidential pardon" to a "fine tom turkey" - and it's been an annual tradition ever since.
32. What were the top three gift categories shoppers spent money on over Thanksgiving weekend in 2023 ?
ANSWER : Clothing, toys and gift cards
33. Which U.S. Founding Father famously referred to turkeys as "a bird of courage" ?
ANSWER : Benjamin Franklin
34. According to a YouGov survey, what three things do Americans report being most thankful for ?
ANSWER : Family, Health and Life
35. True or False: The Pilgrims referred to themselves as "Pilgrims."
ANSWER : False. They called themselves "Separatists"
36. Which two NFL teams have played a game on Thanksgiving Day since 1966 ?
ANSWER : Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys
37. How long can a turkey be stored in the freezer ?
ANSWER : An unopened whole turkey can be frozen for up to two years
38. How long is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route ?
ANSWER : 2.5 miles
39. What notable Native American served as an interpreter between the Pilgrims and Native Americans ?
ANSWER : Squanto
40. How many passengers were on the Mayflower ?
ANSWER : 102
41. When was the first Thanksgiving feast held ?
ANSWER : November 1621
42. What was on the menu of the first Thanksgiving ?
ANSWER : Venison, goose, duck, fish and porridge or bread made from corn
43. When was Thanksgiving declared a national celebration ?
ANSWER : 1789 (President George Washington designated November 26 as a Day of National Thanksgiving)
44. In 2023, approximately how many people shopped over Thanksgiving weekend ?
ANSWER : 200.4 million
45. In 1863, what U.S. president decided that Thanksgiving would be observed on the last Thursday in November ?
ANSWER : Abraham Lincoln
46. When did the Mayflower officially depart England for America ?
ANSWER : September 6, 1620
47. How long was the Mayflower's voyage from England to America ?
ANSWER : 66 Days
48. Where did the Pilgrims first land when arriving on America's shores ?
ANSWER : Provincetown, Massachusetts.
49. Where did the Pilgrims settle ?
ANSWER : Plymouth, Massachusetts
50. What was the first official act of legislation by the Pilgrims ?
ANSWER : The Mayflower Compact
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