21+ Thanksgiving Trivia Questions: The Ultimate Turkey Day Challenge!

Explanation: The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This feast was a harvest celebration.

Related Fact: There is no evidence that turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving meal.

Explanation: Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War. This was done to promote national unity.

Related Fact: Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of a women’s magazine, wrote letters to presidents for 17 years, advocating for a national Thanksgiving holiday.

Explanation: The Wampanoag tribe shared their harvest with the Pilgrims and participated in the first Thanksgiving. They played a crucial role in helping the Pilgrims survive.

Related Fact: The Wampanoag helped the Pilgrims cultivate the land by showing them how to plant native crops.

Explanation: The Mayflower was the ship that transported the Pilgrims from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. The voyage took approximately 66 days.

Related Fact: The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard the Mayflower, establishing a set of rules for self-governance in the new colony.

Explanation: An estimated 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, making it the most popular main dish. This is a classic example for thanksgiving trivia questions.

Related Fact: The average weight of a turkey purchased for Thanksgiving is 16 pounds.

Explanation: Cranberry sauce, often made from cranberries, sugar, and water, is a common side dish served with Thanksgiving meals. It provides a tart and sweet contrast to the other savory dishes.

Related Fact: Cranberries are native to North America and were used by Native Americans long before the arrival of European settlers.

Explanation: The NFL (National Football League) has a tradition of holding games on Thanksgiving Day. This is a long-standing tradition that started in 1920.

Related Fact: The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys traditionally host Thanksgiving Day games every year.

Explanation: Beta-carotene, a pigment found in pumpkin flesh, is responsible for the vibrant orange color of pumpkin pie. It’s also a precursor to Vitamin A.

Related Fact: Pumpkin pie spice usually contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

Explanation: The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday because it’s traditionally the start of the holiday shopping season, with many retailers offering significant discounts.

Related Fact: The term ‘Black Friday’ originated in Philadelphia, where it was used to describe the heavy traffic and crowds following Thanksgiving.

Explanation: Cinnamon is a very common ingredient in Thanksgiving desserts like apple pie, pumpkin pie, and cinnamon rolls. Its warm, sweet flavor is perfect for the holiday season.

Related Fact: Cinnamon is derived from the inner bark of trees from the genus Cinnamomum.

Explanation: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a famous parade held annually in New York City. It features giant character balloons, floats, marching bands, and celebrity performances.

Related Fact: The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924 and originally featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo.

Explanation: Massachusetts is the leading cranberry-producing state in the United States. The bogs of Massachusetts produce a significant portion of the nation’s cranberry supply.

Related Fact: Cranberries float because they have small air pockets inside them.

Explanation: The first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 lasted for three days. It was a harvest festival where the Pilgrims and Wampanoag shared food and celebrated together.

Related Fact: The first Thanksgiving was not called Thanksgiving at the time; it was simply a harvest celebration.

Explanation: A cornucopia, also known as a horn of plenty, is often used as a centerpiece. It is a horn-shaped container filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains, symbolizing abundance and harvest.

Related Fact: The cornucopia is a symbol dating back to ancient Greece.

Explanation: The Turkey Pardon is an annual tradition where the President of the United States ‘pardons’ a turkey, sparing it from being eaten for Thanksgiving. The pardoned turkey is then sent to a farm.

Related Fact: The first official presidential turkey pardon is often credited to George H.W. Bush in 1989.

Explanation: Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. It is a time for families to gather and give thanks.

Related Fact: Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October.

Explanation: The main ingredient in green bean casserole is, unsurprisingly, green beans! The casserole also often includes cream of mushroom soup and fried onions.

Related Fact: The green bean casserole was created in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly at Campbell Soup Company.

Explanation: Salting was a crucial method for preserving food. The Pilgrims used it to preserve meat and fish, which were vital for surviving the harsh winter. These are tough thanksgiving trivia questions!

Related Fact: Smoking was another technique the Pilgrims used to preserve food.

Explanation: Apple pie was a more common dessert than pumpkin pie in early America. Apples were more readily available and easier to preserve than pumpkins.

Related Fact: Apples originated in Central Asia and have been cultivated for thousands of years.

Explanation: Around 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving in the United States. That’s a whole lot of turkey! This information is very useful for writing thanksgiving trivia questions.

Related Fact: California consumes the most turkey per year, accounting for about 16% of total turkey sales.

Explanation: Stuffing, or dressing when cooked outside of the bird, is a Thanksgiving staple. It usually involves bread, herbs, celery, and sometimes sausage or other meats.

Related Fact: There are regional variations in stuffing recipes, with some areas using cornbread or oysters.