Thanksgiving Multiple Choice Trivia — 50 Questions

B) Abraham Lincoln — Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, following a campaign by Sarah Josepha Hale.

C) 1621 — The first Thanksgiving was a three-day harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

C) The Mayflower — The Mayflower carried 102 passengers from Plymouth, England to Cape Cod in 1620.

C) The Wampanoag — Approximately 90 Wampanoag men, led by Chief Massasoit, joined the Pilgrims for the three-day feast.

C) Pumpkin pie — Pumpkin pie is the most popular Thanksgiving dessert, with over 50 million consumed each year.

C) Minnesota — Minnesota raises approximately 40-45 million turkeys annually, more than any other state.

B) Black Friday — Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, named for retailers moving from 'red' to 'black' ink.

C) Three days — The 1621 feast included eating, games, and military demonstrations over three full days.

B) Philadelphia — Philadelphia's parade began in 1920, four years before Macy's first parade in 1924.

C) 165°F — The USDA recommends 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast and thigh.

B) Franklin D. Roosevelt — FDR moved Thanksgiving to extend the Christmas shopping season during the Great Depression.

C) A tom — Adult male turkeys are called toms or gobblers; females are hens.

C) Detroit Lions — The Lions have hosted Thanksgiving games since 1934, with the exception of 1939-1944 during WWII.

C) Pumpkin pie — The Pilgrims lacked butter, wheat flour, and an oven for pie crust.

C) A rafter — A group of turkeys is called a rafter (on the ground) or a flock.

B) Canada — Canadian Thanksgiving traces back to 1578 explorer Martin Frobisher.

C) The snood — The snood is a long, red, fleshy appendage that hangs over the turkey's beak.

B) The Christmas Parade — It was renamed in the late 1930s as it became associated with Thanksgiving.

C) Nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects — Wild turkeys are omnivores and forage for a varied diet.

C) Benjamin Franklin — Franklin praised the turkey as 'a much more respectable bird' than the bald eagle.

B) To add moisture and flavor — Brining is soaking turkey in saltwater before cooking to keep it juicy.

C) Thanksgiving — Written in 1857, it was first performed at a Thanksgiving concert in Savannah, Georgia.

C) 3,000-4,500 — This includes appetizers, alcohol, dinner, and dessert throughout the day.

B) Grapes and blueberries — Concord grapes and blueberries are the only other fruits native to North America.

C) In the refrigerator — Allow 24 hours of thawing per 4-5 pounds of turkey.

B) To remove the backbone and cook flat — Spatchcocking allows faster, more even cooking.

C) Massasoit — Massasoit was the sachem (leader) of the Wampanoag Confederacy.

B) Turkey — Swanson created the first TV dinner in 1953 from surplus Thanksgiving turkey.

C) 25 mph — Wild turkeys can run up to 25 mph and fly short distances at 55 mph.

C) Sage — Sage is the dominant herb in traditional poultry seasoning.

B) Corn, beans, and squash — These three crops were grown together in a companion planting system.

B) Pardons it — Since 1989, the president has 'pardoned' a turkey from becoming dinner.

D) Red — Cranberries turn bright red when fully ripe.

A) Black Wednesday — The night before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest bar nights of the year.

C) California — Due to its large population, California leads in total turkey consumption.

B) A turkey stuffed with duck and chicken — This Cajun dish layers chicken inside duck inside turkey.

B) 1981 — The hotline now answers over 100,000 calls each November.

B) The wattle — Both male and female turkeys have wattles.

B) Green bean casserole — Dorcas Reilly created the recipe using Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup.

C) The Wednesday before — The TSA typically screens over 2.5 million passengers on this day.

B) A day of charitable giving — Founded in 2012, Giving Tuesday follows Cyber Monday.

B) A traditional breed like Bourbon Red — Heritage breeds can breed naturally and live longer than commercial turkeys.

B) Gratitude — Sharing what each person is thankful for is a core tradition.

B) Cranberries, sugar, and water — Fresh cranberry sauce requires just these three ingredients.

C) Romans — The Cerealia honored Ceres, goddess of agriculture, with feasts and games.

C) Corn syrup — Traditional pecan pie uses light or dark corn syrup.

C) 88% — About 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving.

C) 5,000-6,000 — A full-grown turkey has approximately 5,000-6,000 feathers.

B) The Hudson River — The Mayflower was headed for the mouth of the Hudson River (then Virginia Colony).

B) A corn and bean dish — Succotash comes from the Narragansett word for boiled corn kernels.