Multiple choice Thanksgiving trivia is perfect for classrooms, family parties, or any event where you want everyone to have a fighting chance. Each question has four options including plausible distractors that test real knowledge without being tricky. Covering history, food traditions, and holiday customs.
Thanksgiving Multiple Choice Questions
1What year did the Pilgrims hold the first Thanksgiving feast? A) 1620 B) 1621 C) 1623 D) 1630
B) 1621 — the three-day feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people took place in autumn 1621, approximately a year after the Mayflower arrived.
2Which US President officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday? A) George Washington B) Abraham Lincoln C) Theodore Roosevelt D) Franklin Roosevelt
B) Abraham Lincoln — Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, with the holiday to be observed on the last Thursday of November.
3What Native American tribe shared the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims? A) Cherokee B) Sioux C) Wampanoag D) Navajo
C) Wampanoag — the Wampanoag people, led by Chief Massasoit, joined the Pilgrims for the 3-day harvest celebration.
4How many turkeys does the NFIB (National Turkey Federation) estimate are eaten on Thanksgiving? A) 25 million B) 46 million C) 65 million D) 80 million
B) 46 million — approximately 46 million turkeys are consumed in the United States on Thanksgiving Day each year.
5What is the traditional starting time of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? A) 7 AM B) 9 AM C) 10 AM D) 11 AM
B) 9 AM — the parade begins at 9:00 AM Eastern Time, starting at 77th Street on Central Park West in New York City.
6When was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first held? A) 1910 B) 1924 C) 1933 D) 1945
B) 1924 — the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 27, 1924, in New York City.
7What color are cranberries when they are ripe? A) Green B) White C) Red D) Purple
C) Red — ripe cranberries are bright red. The green berries ripen to red, and their tartness is why cranberry sauce requires significant sweetening.
8Which country celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October? A) England B) Australia C) Canada D) Mexico
C) Canada — Canadian Thanksgiving occurs on the second Monday in October, about 6 weeks earlier than US Thanksgiving, tied to the earlier Canadian harvest season.
9What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving table centerpiece typically made from a hollowed squash or gourd? A) Cornucopia B) Gobbler C) Harvest Horn D) Pilgrim Basket
A) Cornucopia — also called a 'horn of plenty,' the cornucopia is a symbol of abundance traditionally filled with fruits, vegetables, and harvest produce.
10How many days did the Mayflower voyage take? A) 45 days B) 66 days C) 90 days D) 112 days
B) 66 days — the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620, and arrived at Plymouth Rock on November 9, 1620.
Thanksgiving Multiple Choice: Food and Traditions
11What is the most popular Thanksgiving pie? A) Apple pie B) Pecan pie C) Pumpkin pie D) Sweet potato pie
C) Pumpkin pie — pumpkin pie is the most popular Thanksgiving dessert, with over 50 million pumpkin pies consumed each Thanksgiving.
12What is 'Green Bean Casserole' made from? A) Green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and onions B) Green beans, cheddar cheese, and breadcrumbs C) Green beans, sour cream, and bacon D) Green beans, butter, and garlic
A) Green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions — the classic Thanksgiving side dish was created by Dorcas Reilly at Campbell Soup Company in 1955.
13What is the process of brining a turkey? A) Marinating it in oil and herbs B) Soaking it in a saltwater solution C) Stuffing it with aromatics D) Slow cooking it overnight
B) Soaking it in a saltwater solution — brining involves submerging the turkey in salt water (with optional herbs and sugar) for 12–24 hours to improve moisture and flavor.
14Which American football team has played in the most Thanksgiving Day games? A) Chicago Bears B) Dallas Cowboys C) Detroit Lions D) Green Bay Packers
C) Detroit Lions — the Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game every year since 1934 (except WWII years 1939–1944), making them the team with the most Thanksgiving Day game appearances.