Thanksgiving Trivia

The author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (Sarah Josepha Hale) is partly responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The Continental Congress declared the first Thanksgiving in 1777, but the custom fell out of use around 1815. It wasn’t until Sarah Josepha Hale, best known for writing "Mary Had a Little Lamb," petitioned several presidents to make it a national holiday that it actually became one.

Which President officially created Thanksgiving as a national holiday?

• George Washington

• Abraham Lincoln

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt

• Woodrow Wilson

Answer explanation

In the middle of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, prompted by a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale, proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated on the 26th, the final Thursday of November 1863.

Which bird did Benjamin Franklin recommend for the official symbol of the United States of America?

• Bald Eagle

• Hawk

• Turkey

• Falcon

Answer explanation

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."

Which balloon character has made the most appearances in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade?

• Charlie Brown

• Big Bird

• Spiderman

• Snoopy

Answer explanation

Throughout the years, the beagle has had a total of seven balloons, making 39 appearances "on and off through 2015" before he was replaced with Charlie Brown in 2016. He returned as an astronaut for the 2019 parade, bringing his balloon total to eight.

Does turkey actually make you tired after Thanksgiving dinner?

• Yes

• No

Answer explanation

Myth has it that we're always so tired on Thanksgiving because of the tryptophan in turkey. According to WebMD, there is no more of the amino acid tryptophan in turkey than any other type of poultry. It's more likely that you feel exhausted because of the ungodly amount of carbohydrates you just stuffed your face with.

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Which two National Football league teams have been playing games traditionally on Thanksgiving since the middle of the 20th century?

• Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.

• Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys.

• Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings

• Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears

Answer explanation

The idea to play on Thanksgiving started as a marketing ploy to get more attendance to games. The Detroit Lions started taking the field on Thanksgiving Day in 1934 and the Dallas Cowboys followed in 1966. Today, the NFL holds three Thanksgiving games each November, two of which always feature the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys.

"Jingle Bells" was originally a Thanksgiving song.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Before becoming a Christmas anthem, "Jingle Bells" was an 1857 song titled "One Horse Open Sleigh," and its composer, James Pierpont, intended it to be a Thanksgiving Day song. But it became so popular around December 25 that in 1859 the title was changed to "Jingle Bells" and the rest is history!

What is the fastest speed that wild turkeys can move?

• 10 MPH

• 50 MPH

• 5 MPH

• 25 MPH

Answer explanation

Domesticated turkeys (the type eaten on Thanksgiving) cannot fly, and their pace is limited to a slow walk. Female domestic turkeys, which are typically smaller and lighter than males, can move somewhat faster. Wild turkeys, on the other hand, are much smaller and more agile. They can reach speeds of up to 20-25 miles per hour on the ground and fly for short distances at speeds approaching 55 miles per hour. They also have better eyesight and hearing than their domestic counterparts.

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Who was the first President to officially "pardon" a turkey on Thanksgiving?

• John F. Kennedy

• Richard Nixon

• Ronald Reagan

• George W. Bush

Answer explanation

In 1989, the 41st president pardoned the first turkey—that is, assured he would never become somebody's dinner—ever after noticing the 50-pound bird looked a little antsy at his official Thanksgiving proclamation. Since then, every president has upheld the tradition and a few of the turkeys have gone on to serve a different purpose. In 2005 and 2009, the birds went to Disneyland and Disney World parks to participate in the annual Thanksgiving parades.

Which state produces the most turkeys on an annual basis?

• Minnesota

• Maryland

• Alabama

• Oklahoma

Answer explanation

Approximately, 44 million to 46 million turkeys are raised in Minnesota annually.