Welcome to the ultimate challenge! If you think you know everything about Thanksgiving , this is your chance to prove it. Take the quiz below to test your knowledge, and don’t forget to share your score when you finish!
Results
Congratulations, your knowledge is tack sharp!
Better luck next time!
#1. Which U.S. Founding Father famously described the wild turkey as a ‘Bird of Courage’ and ‘a much more respectable Bird’ than the bald eagle in a 1784 letter?
Benjamin Franklin expressed his preference for the wild turkey in a private letter written to his daughter Sarah Bache in 1784. He argued that the bald eagle was a bird of bad moral character because it often scavenges for food. Franklin viewed the turkey as a respectable native bird and a true figure of courage that would defend its home against invaders.
#2. What is the specific collective noun used to describe a group of wild turkeys?
Wild turkeys are large birds native to North America. The term rafter comes from the Old English word for roof support, as these birds often roost in trees or high beams. While rafter refers to a group in the wild, domesticated turkeys are typically called a flock. Turkeys were nearly extinct in the early twentieth century but have since recovered through conservation efforts.
#3. Which of these modern Thanksgiving staples was notably absent from the 1621 harvest feast because the Pilgrims lacked the butter, flour, and sugar to make it?
Although pumpkins were plentiful during the 1621 harvest, the absence of wheat flour and butter prevented the creation of pastry crusts. Furthermore, the colony lacked ovens for baking and refined sugar for sweetening. Instead of modern pie, historical accounts suggest the Pilgrims likely prepared squash by boiling it or roasting it in ashes, occasionally filling the gourds with spiced milk before cooking.
#4. In which U.S. city was the very first ‘Turkey Trot’ footrace held in 1896, establishing a holiday tradition that remains the oldest continuously run footrace in North America?
The Buffalo Turkey Trot started in 1896 with six runners organized by the local YMCA. This five mile event is unique because it has never been canceled, enduring through world wars and severe weather conditions. As North America’s oldest continuously run footrace, it actually predates the Boston Marathon by one year, making it a cornerstone of American athletic history and holiday tradition.
#5. Which company famously established its “Turkey Talk-Line” in 1981 to provide holiday cooking advice to millions of callers every November?
Butterball launched its Turkey Talk-Line in 1981 to assist home cooks during the Thanksgiving season. Originally staffed by six home economists, the hotline now employs over fifty experts who handle more than 100,000 inquiries annually. These professionals provide guidance on thawing, stuffing, and roasting techniques. The service has expanded from traditional phone calls to include text messages and social media interactions for modern convenience.
#6. Which animated character was the very first giant balloon to appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade when balloons were introduced in 1927?
Felix the Cat debuted as the inaugural balloon in the 1927 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This silent film character replaced live zoo animals that often grew restless during the long procession. Puppeteer Tony Sarg designed the inflatable using rubberized silk and filled it with helium. After the celebration, the balloon was released into the sky, where it eventually popped due to low air pressure.
#7. Which Wampanoag sachem (leader) signed a peace treaty with the Pilgrims in 1621 and attended the famous first harvest celebration?
Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag Confederacy, formed a strategic alliance with the Plymouth colonists to protect his people from rival tribes. In March 1621, he signed a peace treaty with Governor John Carver that lasted over fifty years. This agreement promised mutual defense and cooperation. Later that year, Massasoit and ninety of his warriors joined the English settlers for their three-day harvest feast.
#8. What is the name of the fleshy appendage that hangs down over a male turkey’s beak, which can change size and color based on its mood?
The snood is a fleshy appendage found on the forehead of turkeys. In males, it plays a vital role in courtship and mate selection. When a tom is excited or strutting, blood flow increases, causing the organ to elongate and change color. Researchers have observed that female turkeys prefer males with longer snoods, as they often indicate better health and genetic quality.
#9. Which U.S. city is home to the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade, a tradition that began in 1920, four years before the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1920 when the Gimbels Department Store organized a small procession of floats to celebrate the holiday season. Originally called the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade, it predates the famous New York City event by four years. The parade was designed to attract shoppers and entertain local families. Today, it remains a major regional tradition held annually along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
#10. Which popular Thanksgiving staple was first successfully canned in 1912 by Marcus Urann, a lawyer who later co-founded the Ocean Spray cooperative?
Marcus Urann pioneered the canning of cranberry sauce in 1912 to solve the problem of a short harvest season. Before this innovation, cranberries were only available during a brief period in autumn. Urann eventually merged his business with other growers to form the Ocean Spray cooperative in 1930. This development ensured that the tart fruit became a reliable year-round staple for households across the country.
#11. According to the USDA, which U.S. state consistently ranks as the top producer of turkeys, raising approximately 40 million birds annually?
Minnesota consistently ranks as the top turkey producer by utilizing a network of over six hundred poultry farms and hatcheries, which are specialized facilities for hatching eggs. The state benefits from proximity to key feed crops such as corn and soybeans, which reduces transportation costs. This agricultural concentration supports thousands of jobs in regional processing and distribution centers.
#12. Which U.S. President was the first to formalize the annual tradition of issuing an official executive pardon to a National Thanksgiving Turkey in 1989?
While presidents received turkeys for decades, George H.W. Bush officially began the annual formal pardon in 1989. Earlier leaders like Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy spared specific birds, but Bush established the ritual as a recurring White House event. Today, the National Thanksgiving Turkey is granted a reprieve and sent to live at various educational farms or university sanctuaries across the United States.
#13. Which member of the Patuxet tribe famously taught the Plymouth Pilgrims how to plant corn and served as their interpreter leading up to the first harvest celebration?
Squanto, also known as Tisquantum, was a member of the Patuxet tribe who played a vital role in the survival of the Plymouth Colony. Having learned English during years spent in Europe, he served as a mediator and translator between the settlers and local native groups. His agricultural advice, including using fish as fertilizer for corn, proved essential for the success of the first harvest.
#14. Originally titled ‘One Horse Open Sleigh’, which famous holiday song was actually written by James Lord Pierpont in the 1850s to be performed during a Thanksgiving program?
James Lord Pierpont composed this piece in Medford, Massachusetts, during the mid-nineteenth century. Although firmly associated with Christmas today, the writer initially intended for the lyrics to be performed during a local church Thanksgiving program. Historical records show Jingle Bells was the first song ever broadcast from space in 1965 when astronauts played it on a small harmonica and a set of bells.
#15. Created in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly for the Campbell Soup Company, which iconic side dish has become a staple of the modern Thanksgiving dinner table?
Dorcas Reilly developed this recipe in 1955 while working in the Campbell Soup Company test kitchen. Originally called the Green Bean Bake, it was designed to be a quick meal using accessible pantry staples like canned beans and cream of mushroom soup. Today, millions of American households prepare this dish for holiday meals, making it one of the most recognized and enduring recipes in commercial culinary history.
#16. According to primary historical accounts, how many days did the first harvest celebration between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe last in 1621?
The 1621 harvest feast at Plymouth Colony involved approximately fifty English settlers and ninety Wampanoag people. Primary accounts from Edward Winslow confirm that this event lasted for three days. Participants engaged in diplomacy, athletic contests, and shared meals featuring venison and wildfowl. While not initially called Thanksgiving, this historic gathering established an early precedent for cooperative relations during the difficult colonial period.
#17. In 1939, which U.S. President moved Thanksgiving up one week to stimulate retail sales during the Great Depression, leading to the derisive nickname ‘Franksgiving’?
Franklin Roosevelt broke tradition in 1939 by moving Thanksgiving to the second-to-last Thursday in November. This change aimed to lengthen the holiday shopping season and help retailers recover from the Great Depression. Critics mocked the decision as Franksgiving, and several states refused to acknowledge the change. Eventually, Congress intervened in 1941 to permanently set the holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
#18. In what year did the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade take place, featuring live animals from the Central Park Zoo instead of giant character balloons?
The inaugural Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade occurred in 1924 to celebrate the expansion of the flagship Herald Square store in Manhattan. Originally called the Christmas Parade, it featured floats, bands, and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. Lions, tigers, and elephants walked the six-mile route. It was not until 1927 that giant helium character balloons replaced the live animal participants.
#19. Which American author and editor, who wrote ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’, successfully lobbied Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Sarah Josepha Hale served as the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book for several decades. She campaigned for thirty-six years to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday, writing letters to five different American presidents. Abraham Lincoln finally issued the proclamation in 1863 during the Civil War. Beyond her activism, Hale is recognized for writing the nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb in 1830.
#20. In 1953, which American company famously used 260 tons of leftover Thanksgiving turkey to create the first commercially successful ‘TV Dinner’?
Swanson executive Gerry Thomas conceived the idea for pre-packaged meals after the company overestimated holiday demand, resulting in massive turkey surpluses stored in refrigerated railcars. These meals included turkey, dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes served in compartmentalized aluminum trays designed to fit on folding snack tables. The branding capitalized on the burgeoning television craze, transforming American household dining habits forever.
#21. Which NFL team has hosted a home game on every Thanksgiving Day since 1934, with the exception of a brief hiatus during World War II?
The Detroit Lions established this holiday tradition in 1934 to build a local fan base. Owner George Richards utilized his radio network to ensure the game reached a national audience. Aside from a break during World War II from 1939 to 1944, the team has hosted the contest annually. This event remains one of the most consistent and recognized scheduling fixtures in professional sports.