By BrainFall Staff - Updated: August 23, 2019
Are you well versed in all things Thanksgiving? Do you have a full appreciation of Thanksgiving in terms of history and culture? Take this quiz before you pick up that drumstick!
Thanksgiving History
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in Canada, the United States, some of the Caribbean islands, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. There are similar holidays in Germany and Japan
Thanksgiving Facts Online Quiz
Thanksgiving isn't just about gobbling down heaps of delicious food and dodging those awkward family conversations. It's a day steeped in history, from its colonial roots to its evolution into a national holiday. Yes, we're talking about the time when turkey became more than just a bird, but the centerpiece of November's most celebrated Thursday in the US. Baste yourself in knowledge and outshine that shiny, glaze-topped ham with some well-earned trivia expertise.
Ever wondered who flipped the switch and made Thanksgiving a day when work emails get the cold turkey treatment? Or perhaps you're bursting to know which US President started the quirky tradition of turkey pardoning, sparing one lucky bird from becoming dinner each year. You can strut your stuff and ruffle some feathers at the dinner table armed with more than just a ladle after taking this quiz.
So, before you loosen your belt in preparation for the feast, why not take a quick, fun trot through some trivia that might just make you the life of the party—or at least keep you entertained while the yams cook. Get ready to test your Turkey Day knowledge, because knowing which pie reigns supreme is serious business. And remember, it's all gravy if you don't score perfectly on the first try—after all, Thanksgiving is all about second helpings!
Gobble Gobble: The Turkey Tales
Before you strut into your next Thanksgiving quiz, let's talk turkey. These tales are meatier than your Aunt Edna's famed stuffing and will prep you to wing it through any turkey-related trivia. Don your feathers and let’s dive right in!
From Wild Bird to Table Centerpiece
Once upon a time, the turkey you feast on was a wild bird frolicking through the forest, blissfully unaware of its festive fate. Wild turkeys are native to North America and are the ancestors of the domesticated turkeys that now grace your Thanksgiving table. The transition from wild, feathered sprinter to a stuffed, roasted centerpiece has a rich history, peppering our dish with layers of tradition. Did you know that each Thanksgiving feast is likely to feature a turkey that weighs in at a hefty 16 to 24 pounds? That's a lot of bird and a mountain of stuffing!
Presidential Pardons and Flying Feathers
It's not all about the baste and the glaze, folks! A lucky few feathered friends get to live another day, thanks to a peculiar tradition that involves the President of the United States granting a "pardon" to a turkey. President Abraham Lincoln is credited with the first unofficial pardon after his son grew attached to a bird. Fast forward to 1989, and George H.W. Bush made the turkey pardon an official annual ritual. Imagine being the one hen or tom (that's lady and gent turkey, for your info) who gets to trot away from the carving knife, a free bird! It's like the Hunger Games, but with less hunger and more games.
Harvesting History and Traditions
Embark on a turkey trot through the fields of yesteryear, where harvest meant celebration and every dish told a story. Ready your trivia muscles—you're about to carve into the meaty history of Thanksgiving traditions and facts.
Pilgrims' Progress: The First Feast
The year was 1621, New England was the venue, and gratitude was in the air. Your Pilgrim pals and the Native Americans didn't just high-five over a successful harvest; they threw a three-day bash in Plymouth. Forget your modern-day turkey and cranberry sauce; this feast was all about the venison and whatever fish they could net.
| Original Menu Item | 21st Century Twist |
|---|---|
| Venison | Turkey |
| Fish | Side of Salmon |
Parades, Pigskins, and Pumpkin Pie
Let's march down memory lane to the early 20th century when parades and football began drawing as much attention as the feast itself. Thanks to the (Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade)[https://brainfall.com/personality/which-thanksgiving-food-are-you-quiz], Santa Claus found his way into Thanksgiving. In Philadelphia, the Gimbel Brothers Department Store herded holiday shoppers with their own parade. And football? Thanksgiving Day turned into a showdown of gutsy NFL teams—a tradition that's stuck harder than your aunt's infamous pumpkin pie.
Notable Firsts:
- 1920: First NFL games on Thanksgiving
- 1924: Macy's parade debut with floats and Santa Claus
A Side of Facts: Side Dishes & More
Who would've thought that a dish as humble as the green bean casserole would be born from the mind of Dorcas Reilly at the Campbell Soup Company? Or that cranberry sauce would become the jiggly crown jewel of Thanksgiving side dishes? Not to forget, sweet potatoes smothered in marshmallows becoming a staple on tables coast to coast—because who doesn't like dessert masquerading as a side?
Favorite Sides Then and Now:
- Then: Plain cranberries
- Now: Cranberry sauce with a hint of orange zest
Armed with these nuggets of knowledge, you're now ready to gobble up that Thanksgiving trivia with the relish of a feast-goer attacking the last slice of pumpkin pie. Go forth and quiz!
