Thanksgiving True or False Trivia — 50 Questions

False (myth). No primary source mentions Plymouth Rock. The association began in 1741, over a century later.

Uncertain, probably false. Wildfowl and venison were mentioned; turkey as the centerpiece came much later.

True. Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863.

True. There were 102 passengers plus approximately 30 crew members.

False. Macy's first parade was in 1924. Philadelphia's parade started in 1920.

True. Wild turkeys can fly short distances up to 55 mph.

True. Cranberries, blueberries, and Concord grapes are the only native North American fruits.

False. The Pilgrims lacked butter, flour, and an oven for pie crust.

True. Approximately 90 Wampanoag men joined the approximately 50 Pilgrims.

True. Franklin praised the turkey in a letter to his daughter.

False. Buckled hats are a 19th-century artistic invention.

False. Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October.

False. They did not play from 1939-1944 due to WWII.

True. It was first performed at a Thanksgiving concert in 1857.

True. The snood changes color based on mood and health.

True. Swanson created TV dinners in 1953 from surplus Thanksgiving turkey.

False. They called themselves Saints or Separatists.

False. Commercial breeds are too heavy for sustained flight.

False. They are completely different plants.

False. The formal tradition began in 1989 with George H.W. Bush.

True. Early thanksgivings involved prayer and fasting, not feasting.

True. Minnesota raises about 40-45 million turkeys annually.

True. Beer was considered safer than water and was part of the ship's cargo.

False. It lasted three days according to Edward Winslow's account.

False. Only male turkeys gobble; females make softer yelps and clucks.

False. The Saturday before Christmas was busier for decades.

False. Potatoes originated in the Andes region of South America.

True. The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project has revived the language.

True. Astronauts have celebrated Thanksgiving with special meals.

False. It was signed aboard the ship on November 11, 1620, before landing.

True. Jefferson believed it violated church-state separation.

True. Marcus Urann pioneered canned cranberry sauce.

False. Alaska does not have wild turkeys.

False. With Wampanoag help, the 1621 harvest was successful.

False. Stuffing dates back to ancient Roman cuisine.

True. Turkeys can see ultraviolet light.

True. It was brought by freed American slaves in the 1820s.

False. The average dinner for 10 costs about $60-70 according to the Farm Bureau.

True. Dorcas Reilly at Campbell's created the recipe.

False. The 1621 feast was a one-time event, not an annual tradition.

False. The drowsiness is mainly from overeating carbohydrates.

False. No primary source mentions it; the tradition started in 1741.

False. It dates back to the ancient Etruscans and Romans.

True. Lincoln considered July 4 before choosing November.

True. Maize requires human cultivation to survive.

False. Forks were rare; they ate with spoons, knives, and hands.

True. Since 1970, protesters gather in Plymouth to commemorate Indigenous suffering.

False. Research suggests about 1 pound, much of which is not lost.

False. It was mocked as 'Franksgiving' and only 32 states followed it.

True. From 1929 to 1932, balloons were released with return-address tags for rewards.