50 Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers

Thanksgiving is not just about turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie—it’s a holiday rooted in rich history and filled with interesting traditions. Whether you’re gathered around the dinner table or hosting a festive quiz for family and friends, these 50 Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers will challenge your knowledge and make your celebration even more memorable.

What Is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is an annual holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada, characterized by gatherings with loved ones, reflections on gratitude, and feasts featuring favorite seasonal foods. In the United States, Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday in November, blending historical traditions, harvest celebrations, and modern family customs.

Thanksgiving Trivia Questions: Historical Facts & Origins

• Question 1: In what year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
• Question 2: Which U.S. president made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
• Question 3: What Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
• Question 4: Who was the chief of this tribe?
• Question 5: How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?
• Question 6: Which U.S. president refused to recognize Thanksgiving as a holiday?
• Question 7: What year did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begin?
• Question 8: Which city is home to the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade?
• Question 9: Which balloon was the first to appear in the Macy’s Parade?
• Question 10: Who wrote the children’s song “Over the River and Through the Woods,” often associated with Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving Traditions and Customs

Thanksgiving traditions have evolved over centuries, from harvest festivals to modern family gatherings. Key traditions include:

• Thanksgiving dinner: Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie.
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Giant balloons, floats, marching bands in New York City.
• Football games: NFL broadcasts are a staple.
• Giving thanks: Sharing gratitude before meals.
• Turkey Trot races: Charity runs held nationwide.

Thanksgiving Food: Facts & Trivia

• Question 11: What meat was served at the first Thanksgiving?
• Question 12: What vegetable did the Pilgrims almost entirely leave out of the first Thanksgiving feast?
• Question 13: What is the most commonly eaten side dish at Thanksgiving?
• Question 14: Which state produces the most turkeys annually?
• Question 15: What is the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people in the U.S.?
• Question 16: How many turkeys are cooked for Thanksgiving each year in the U.S.?
• Question 17: What is the most popular alternative meat to turkey for Thanksgiving?
• Question 18: When were canned cranberries first introduced?
• Question 19: What pie is served most often at Thanksgiving?
• Question 20: Which state consumes the most turkey on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving Day Parade: Macy’s & More

• Question 21: In what year did the Macy’s Parade first feature balloons?
• Question 22: On average, how many people attend the Macy’s Parade each year?
• Question 23: Roughly how many people participate in the Macy’s Parade each year?
• Question 24: What well-known turkey balloon debuted in the parade in 1989?
• Question 25: Which celebrity is often featured at the end of the parade?
• Question 26: Which television network has broadcast the Macy’s Parade since 1952?
• Question 27: What infamous balloon incident happened in 1997?
• Question 28: What is unique about the parade route?
• Question 29: Which parade performer appeared every year for 20 years?
• Question 30: What is the official starting time of the parade?

Fun Thanksgiving Facts & Guinness Records

• Question 31: According to Guinness World Records, what’s the heaviest turkey ever recorded?
• Question 32: What’s the average weight of a Thanksgiving turkey?
• Question 33: How many pounds of cranberries are consumed each year?
• Question 34: In what year did canned cranberries first come about?
• Question 35: Which pie flavor outsells all others during Thanksgiving?
• Question 36: What was the original purpose of the presidential turkey pardon?
• Question 37: What popular song’s real title is “The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day”?
• Question 38: Which state is most likely to deep fry their turkeys?
• Question 39: What is the most popular Thanksgiving food after turkey?
• Question 40: What’s the busiest travel day of the year in the United States?

Thanksgiving Aftermath: Black Friday & Beyond

• Question 41: What highly anticipated shopping day always follows Thanksgiving?
• Question 42: What’s the other holiday celebrated the day after Thanksgiving?
• Question 43: What charitable event usually takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving?
• Question 44: Which month does Canadian Thanksgiving fall?
• Question 45: Which state was the first to officially adopt Thanksgiving as an annual holiday?
• Question 46: What are wishbones traditionally used for during Thanksgiving?
• Question 47: What’s the nickname for the day before Thanksgiving, known for high bar sales?
• Question 48: What is considered America’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
• Question 49: What is the meaning behind the term “Turkey Trot”?
• Question 50: How many football games are traditionally played on Thanksgiving Day?

Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Their Answers

Here are detailed answers and explanations for the questions above:

1. 1621 – The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe in Plymouth.
2. Abraham Lincoln – He proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 during the Civil War.
3. The Wampanoag Tribe – Local Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims survive.
4. Chief Massasoit led the Wampanoag tribe and attended the first Thanksgiving.
5. Three days – The first Thanksgiving feast lasted for three days.
6. Thomas Jefferson – He did not recognize official Thanksgiving holidays, opposing federal holiday designations.
7. 1924 – Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in New York City.
8. Philadelphia – The oldest parade, the Gimbels Parade, began in 1920.
9. Felix the Cat – The first giant balloon to appear in Macy’s Parade, in 1927.
10. Lydia Maria Child wrote “Over the River and Through the Woods.”
11. Venison, fowl – Seafood, wildfowl, and venison likely dominated early feasts; turkey was not the main dish.
12. Potatoes – Neither white potatoes nor sweet potatoes were present at the first Thanksgiving.
13. Mashed potatoes – Often voted as Americans’ favorite Thanksgiving side dish.
14. Minnesota – Produces the most turkeys in the U.S. each year.
15. $50–$60 – According to recent surveys, that’s the average cost for a classic 10-person Thanksgiving meal.
16. Over 45 million turkeys are cooked for Thanksgiving each year in the United States.
17. Ham – The most popular alternative to turkey.
18. 1912 – The first canned cranberries appeared on shelves.
19. Pumpkin pie – It’s the traditional pie of choice for the holiday.
20. California – Leads in turkey consumption on Thanksgiving.
21. 1927 – The first giant balloons were used in the Macy’s Parade.
22. 3.5 million people attend the parade live each year.
23. Over 8,000 people participate annually in the parade.
24. Tom Turkey – Debuted in 1989 and is a parade favorite.
25. Santa Claus – Always concludes the parade festivities.
26. NBC has broadcasted the parade since 1952.
27. 1997 Cat-In-The-Hat incident – A balloon mishap injured two, changing safety standards for future parades.
28. Starts on Central Park West – The parade’s route is iconic and traverses through Manhattan.
29. Spiderman – Had a remarkable 20-year parade presence.
30. 9 a.m. EST – The official Macy’s Parade start time.
31. 86 pounds – The heaviest turkey on record (according to Guinness).
32. 15 pounds is the average Thanksgiving turkey weight.
33. More than 80 million pounds of cranberries are consumed each holiday season.
34. 1912 – Canned cranberries came onto the market.
35. Pumpkin pie – Outpaces pecan and apple in Thanksgiving sales.
36. Sparing a turkey from the Thanksgiving feast – The presidential turkey pardon began as a symbolic gesture.
37. “Over the River and Through the Woods” is formally titled “The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day.”
38. Louisiana – Most likely state to deep fry turkeys.
39. Stuffing (or dressing) is second only to turkey in popularity.
40. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving – Known as “Blackout Wednesday” for high bar sales.
41. Thanksgiving Eve – Nickname for the top bar night.
42. Black Friday – The biggest shopping day following Thanksgiving.
43. Giving Tuesday – Charitable event the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
44. October – Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated the second Monday in October.
45. Massachusetts – First state to adopt Thanksgiving as a yearly holiday.
46. Breaking the wishbone – Children make wishes as they snap the turkey’s wishbone.
47. Mashed potatoes – Officially voted America’s favorite side dish in national polls.
48. “Turkey Trot” refers to popular Thanksgiving morning running events.
49. Three NFL football games are televised each Thanksgiving.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What foods were NOT served at the first Thanksgiving?

A: Likely not served: potatoes, pumpkin pie, and corn as we know it. Instead, they dined on venison, wildfowl, and seafood.

Q: Why is turkey the main dish of Thanksgiving?

A: While wildfowl were served at the first feast, turkey became popular because it was abundant and large enough to feed many.

Q: What is the story behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

A: Macy’s Parade began in 1924 by store employees wanting to celebrate with a European-style festival. It now draws millions of viewers, famous balloons, performances, and the arrival of Santa Claus.

Q: What is the Presidential Turkey Pardon?

A: Each year, the President ‘pardons’ a turkey, sparing it from being eaten. This lighthearted custom originated in the late 1940s.

Q: What are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes?

A: National surveys rank mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce among the top favorites.

Q: Why is Thanksgiving considered the busiest travel period?

A: Thanksgiving marks the largest annual movement of Americans as families reunite, with trains, planes, and highways packed.

Q: What holiday is celebrated the day after Thanksgiving?

A: Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season, with stores offering top deals. Native American Heritage Day is also observed on the same day.

Q: What’s the meaning of “Turkey Trot”?

A: Turkey Trot refers to fun runs held on Thanksgiving morning, now a national tradition benefiting charities.

Q: When is Canadian Thanksgiving held?

A: It is celebrated the second Monday of October, highlighting harvest and gratitude.

Thanksgiving Table: Popular Foods Comparison

How to Host Your Own Thanksgiving Trivia

• Print or write out these questions and answers.
• Divide into teams or play individually.
• Reward correct answers with small prizes—or extra servings of pie!
• Include children with kid-friendly trivia, such as parade balloon questions.
• End the game with sharing what everyone is thankful for.

Fun Thanksgiving Quotes To Share

• “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
• “Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating, it’s about appreciating.”
• “The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” – William Blake
• “Thanksgiving: bringing families and communities together year after year.”
• “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy.” – Marcel Proust

More Thanksgiving Fun

• Try a Thanksgiving wishbone contest after your meal.
• Watch the Macy’s Parade as a family tradition.
• Share a new trivia fact each year to keep memories fresh.
• Run or walk a Turkey Trot together to kickstart healthy holiday habits.

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Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

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