Want to make your Thanksgiving more engaging? Here’s a quick guide to hosting trivia fun during your celebration. From historical facts to quirky traditions, these 20 questions will entertain your guests and spark lively conversations.
Key Highlights:
- First Thanksgiving: Likely lasted several days in 1621, attended by ~140 people (50 Pilgrims, 90 Wampanoag).
- Thanksgiving as a Holiday: Declared by Abraham Lincoln on October 3, 1863.
- Macy’s Parade: Began in 1924 with live animals.
- NFL Tradition: Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys play every Thanksgiving.
- Turkey Trivia: Average turkey weighs 15-18 pounds; deep-fried turkey accidents are the most common mishaps.
Fun Tips:
- Split guests into teams for friendly competition.
- Spread trivia questions throughout the evening.
- Offer small prizes like leftovers or festive gifts.
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BEST THANKSGIVING TRIVIA QUIZ EVER!
1. How Long Was the First Thanksgiving?
Back in 1621, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came together for a Thanksgiving celebration that probably lasted several days. However, historical records don’t provide a clear timeline.
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Answer: Unclear
2. When Did Thanksgiving Become a Holiday?
Thanksgiving has been celebrated since colonial times, but it wasn’t officially recognized as a national holiday until October 3, 1863. On that day, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation, thanks in large part to the efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale. Over 36 years, Hale wrote letters to five different presidents, urging them to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Her determination finally paid off with Lincoln’s declaration.
Initially, Lincoln designated the last Thursday in November for the holiday. However, in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt adjusted it to the fourth Thursday in November, where it remains today.
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Answer: October 3, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. The current date was set in 1941.
3. How Many People Sailed on the Mayflower?
In 1620, the Mayflower carried 102 passengers and about 30 crew members across the Atlantic. The journey lasted 66 days, beginning in Plymouth, England, on September 16 and ending at Cape Cod on November 21, 1620.
The passengers were divided into two groups: religious separatists, later known as the Pilgrims, and non-separatists, whom the Pilgrims referred to as "Strangers." During the voyage, only one passenger, William Button, a young servant, passed away at sea. Tragically, nearly half of those on board would not survive their first winter in the New World.
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Answer: 102 passengers, plus about 30 crew members.
4. Who Attended the First Thanksgiving?
In 1621, the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Colony brought together about 50 Pilgrims and 90 members of the Wampanoag tribe. This multi-day harvest celebration had a total of around 140 participants.
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Answer: Around 140 people attended – 50 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans.
5. Who Was Sarah Josepha Hale?
Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, spent 36 years tirelessly campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She wrote letters to five U.S. presidents and published numerous editorials advocating for a unified Thanksgiving celebration.
Her determination paid off in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, to be observed on the last Thursday of November.
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Answer: Sarah Josepha Hale was the editor who spent decades advocating for Thanksgiving to become a national holiday, a goal achieved in 1863 thanks to her persistence.
6. What Does a Typical Turkey Weigh?
Most Thanksgiving turkeys weigh between 15 and 18 pounds (6.8–8.2 kg), though some families go for even larger birds to ensure plenty of leftovers.
While commercial turkeys are bred to be bigger, their wild counterparts are much smaller, usually weighing only 8 to 12 pounds (3.6–5.4 kg).
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you should plan for 1 pound of turkey per person to cover both the main meal and leftovers. This simple guideline can help you prepare the perfect feast and might even spark some fun trivia conversations at the table.
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Answer: The average Thanksgiving turkey weighs between 15 and 18 pounds, though sizes can vary depending on how many people you’re serving.
7. What’s the Biggest Turkey Ever Recorded?
There isn’t an official record for the largest turkey ever documented. However, some unverified stories, like one from the United Kingdom, suggest a turkey far heavier than the typical range. Most Thanksgiving turkeys weigh between 25–30 pounds (11–14 kg), making any such claim a rare exception. These tales only add to the charm and mystery of Thanksgiving traditions.
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Answer: While no official record exists, there are unconfirmed reports of turkeys significantly exceeding the average weight.
8. What’s America’s Favorite Side Dish?
Thanksgiving side dishes spark heated debates across the U.S. While mashed potatoes and stuffing often top the list, there’s no nationwide favorite. The reason? Regional traditions and cherished family recipes make it impossible to crown a single winner.
This variety showcases the diverse holiday customs found throughout the country, with each region adding its own twist to the Thanksgiving table.
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Answer: There’s no clear favorite – regional and family traditions shape preferences.
9. When Did Cranberry Sauce Start?
Cranberries have been a key part of American cuisine for centuries. Native Americans used them for both food and medicinal purposes. By the 19th century, sweeter cranberry recipes started to appear during early Thanksgiving celebrations, gradually shaping the dish we know today.
In the early 20th century, commercial cranberry sauce hit the market, cementing cranberries as a holiday favorite. Canning advancements soon made it more accessible, ensuring its place on Thanksgiving tables across the country.
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Answer: Commercial cranberry sauce became available in the early 20th century.
10. Where Did Pumpkin Pie Come From?
Pumpkin pie traces its roots back to Native American pumpkin cultivation. Early colonists adopted the practice and created a unique dish by hollowing out pumpkins, filling them with milk, honey, and spices, and roasting them in hot ashes.
The first modern pumpkin pie recipe appeared in American Cookery by Amelia Simmons in 1796. This was the first cookbook written by an American and published in the United States. Her recipe included stewed pumpkin, molasses, allspice, and ginger, forming the base of the pumpkin pie we know today.
By the 1850s, pumpkin pie had cemented its place as a Thanksgiving tradition, thanks in part to Sarah Josepha Hale, who featured recipes for the dish in Godey’s Lady’s Book.
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Answer: The first American cookbook featuring pumpkin pie was published in 1796.
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11. When Did the Macy’s Parade Begin?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade first took place on November 27, 1924, in New York City. Back then, it was called the "Macy’s Christmas Parade" and was organized by Macy’s employees. The inaugural event included live animals like elephants, monkeys, camels, and bears, all provided by the Central Park Zoo. In 1927, the parade introduced its first character balloon, Felix the Cat, marking the start of a long-lasting tradition.
The parade took a break during World War II (1942–1944) but returned in 1945 with local TV coverage. By 1948, NBC’s broadcast made it a nationwide Thanksgiving tradition. Since 1945, the route has remained mostly the same, starting at 77th Street and Central Park West and ending at Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street.
Today, the parade is known for its vibrant floats, massive balloons, and diverse performances.
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Answer: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924.
12. Which NFL Teams Play Every Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving and NFL football go hand in hand, with two teams taking the spotlight every year: the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. These teams have become a staple of the holiday, making football as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and pie.
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Answer: The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
13. When Did Turkey Pardoning Start?
The White House tradition of pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey officially began in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush. During a ceremony in the Rose Garden, the President grants a "presidential pardon" to a turkey, ensuring it avoids becoming part of someone’s Thanksgiving feast.
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Answer: The tradition officially started in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush.
14. Why Is It Called Black Friday?
The term "Black Friday" originally described the chaos in Philadelphia during the 1960s, not holiday shopping profits. After Thanksgiving, massive crowds would flood the streets ahead of the Army-Navy football game, creating traffic jams and overwhelming the police. A 1961 report from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin highlighted officers working extra-long shifts to manage the mayhem.
By the 1980s, retailers adopted the term to represent a financial turning point – when businesses moved from operating at a loss ("in the red") to making profits ("in the black"). Today, Black Friday marks the start of the holiday shopping season, featuring steep discounts and extended hours, showcasing how its meaning has shifted over time.
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Answer: The term "Black Friday" originated in 1960s Philadelphia, where police used it to describe the chaos between Thanksgiving and the Army-Navy football game.
15. How Many People Attend a Typical Thanksgiving?
In the U.S., Thanksgiving celebrations usually bring together around 8–10 guests, though this can differ depending on family traditions and regional customs. How does your gathering size stack up?
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Answer: Most American Thanksgiving gatherings include about 8–10 guests, but the number often varies.
16. Does Australia Celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving isn’t a national holiday in Australia like it is in the United States. However, American expats living in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne often hold private gatherings. These events usually include traditional Thanksgiving meals and customs, shared with their local friends.
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Answer: No, Thanksgiving is not officially celebrated in Australia, though American expat communities sometimes host their own festivities.
17. When Did ‘Friendsgiving’ Start?
The exact origins of Friendsgiving remain unclear, but it has grown into a laid-back alternative to Thanksgiving. This gathering mixes classic holiday dishes with more creative options and is often celebrated during the weekend around Thanksgiving.
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Answer: Friendsgiving is known for its casual, flexible vibe, combining traditional and modern dishes, and is usually held on the weekend surrounding Thanksgiving.
18. What’s the Most Common Thanksgiving Accident?
Deep-fried turkey mishaps top the list of Thanksgiving accidents. These incidents often happen when safety measures are overlooked – like overfilling the fryer, attempting to fry a frozen or partially thawed turkey, or setting up the fryer in an unsafe area. The result? Hot oil spills that can cause serious burns and significant property damage.
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Answer: Deep-fried turkey accidents are the most frequent Thanksgiving mishap.
19. What Strange Gift Did Lincoln Get?
There’s a popular story that President Lincoln once received a live turkey as a gift, and his son Tad convinced him to pardon it. However, there’s no historical evidence to back this up, making it nothing more than a myth.
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Answer: This story is a myth – there’s no historical proof it ever happened.
20. What Led to TV Dinners?
TV dinners became popular mainly because they were easy to prepare. While some stories tie their creation to Thanksgiving traditions, there’s no solid historical proof to back up this connection. The exact origins of TV dinners remain unclear, despite these anecdotes.
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Answer: The link between Thanksgiving traditions and TV dinners is more anecdotal than factual, with no concrete historical evidence to support it.
Conclusion
Make your Thanksgiving even more memorable with trivia that brings people together. These questions can add a fun, interactive element to your celebration while creating moments everyone will cherish.
Here are some tips for using trivia to keep the festivities lively:
- Form Teams: Group your guests into teams of 3-4, mixing family and friends for a fun, social experience.
- Spread It Out: Ask questions at different points during the evening – like between courses or while waiting for dessert – to keep the energy going without interrupting the meal.
- Offer Small Prizes: Reward the winners with something fun, like first pick of leftovers or a festive holiday gift.
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Bring your holiday to life with trivia that gets everyone talking and laughing.
