Think you know everything about Thanksgiving? Let's find out (2024)

It isn't hard to see why Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays of the year.

After all, what's not to like about an entire day devoted to indulging in turkey, gravy and pumpkin pie, followed by napping and shopping? It just doesn't get much better than that.

But did you ever wonder why we celebrate Thanksgiving to begin with or when the very first celebration was held? Well, you're in luck, because we've got the answers to those questions and more.

In fact, we've got a cornucopia chock full of Thanksgiving trivia to quiz your Turkey Day IQ.

There are tons of fascinating Thanksgiving facts about the annual holiday you might not know, like when the very first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City and for what occasion — because, spoiler, it was not at first hosted in honor of Thanksgiving.

Or, can you guess how much the largest pumpkin pie ever made weighs? We can tell you this much: it'll give your car a run for its money.

Use these fun and interesting trivia questions as an after-dinner Thanksgiving game with the kids, adults and everyone else gathered at the table this year. Or, just read through to brush up on your Turkey Day knowledge.

Either way, let the guessing begin.

• In 2023, which state is projected to raise the most turkeys? Answer: Minnesota
• How many balloons are featured in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Answer: 25
• According to a poll, what Thanksgiving side dish is the least popular among Americans? Answer: Green bean casserole
• According to Merriam-Webster, when was the term "Friendsgiving" first circulated? Answer: 2007
• Referred to as the "pumpkin capital" of the U.S., what town is home to the Libby's pumpkin canning plant? Answer: Morton, Illinois
• What year did "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" debut on television? Answer: 1973
• In 2022, how much did the average Thanksgiving dinner cost per person? Answer: $64.05, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
• Approximately how many supermarkets and grocery stores are there in the U.S.? Answer: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2020 there were 62,300.
• According to Macy's, how many people attend the attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York each year? Answer: 3.5 million.
• How many pounds of glitter are sprinkled on Macy's Thanksgiving Parade floats and costumes? Answer: 300 pounds.
• What movie holds the record for the highest-grossing weekend in Thanksgiving history? Answer: "Frozen 2"
• Are pumpkins technically a fruit or a vegetable? Answer: Fruit
• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, how many places in the U.S. are named Cranberry? Answer: Five
• According to Guinness World Records, how much does the world's largest pumpkin pie weigh? Answer: Made in 2010, the record-breaking pie weighed 3,699 lbs
• How many calories are in a typical holiday dinner? Answer: According to the Calorie Control Council, approximately 3000.
• How many minutes a day does the average American (15 and older) spend eating and drinking? Answer: According to the USDA, 67 minutes.
• What is an adult female turkey called? Answer: A hen
• What is an adult male turkey called? Answer: A tom
• What temperature should a turkey be cooked to for safe eating? Answer: 165 °F
• What holiday was the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade commemorating? Answer: Christmas
• Which states were forecasted to raise the most turkeys in 2022? Answer (in order): Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri and Virginia, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Has there ever been a hurricane on Thanksgiving Day? Answer: Though November hurricanes are rare, Hurricane Otto hit Central America on Thanksgiving Day in 2016 and is the strongest hurricane on record so late in the season.
• What is the most popular day to shop during Thanksgiving weekend?Answer: Black Friday is the most popular with 69% of those surveyed planning to shop on the day, according to the National Retail Federation.
• What snowstorm blanketed New York City on Thanksgiving Day, causing problems for the Macy’s parade? Answer: On Nov. 23, 1989, four inches of snow fell on the Big Apple, marking the first Thanksgiving Day storm in more than 50 years.
• Which retailer was the first to host a Thanksgiving Day parade? Answer: Gimbels department store hosted a Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia in 1920, four years before Macy’s held their first.
• Which U.S. president was the first to officially pardon a turkey? Answer: In 1989, George H.W. Bush "presented a Presidential pardon" to a "fine tom turkey" — and it's been an annual tradition ever since.
• What were the top three gift categories for gift-giving in 2022? Answer (in order): Clothing, gift cards and toys
• Which U.S. Founding Father famously referred to turkeys as "a bird of courage"?Answer: Benjamin Franklin
• What do Americans report being most thankful for? Answer: Family, health and life, according to a 2021 survey by YouGov.
• True or false: The Pilgrims referred to themselves as “Pilgrims.” Answer: False. They called themselves "Separatists"
• Which two NFL teams have played a game on Thanksgiving Day since 1966? Answer: Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys
• What did the Spaniards likely eat at the first Thanksgiving? Answer: Based on what they brought over on their ships, it was likely a pork and bean stew, sea biscuits and red wine.
• How long can a turkey be stored in the freezer? Answer: An unopened whole turkey can be frozen for up to two years, according to Butterball.
• How long is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route? Answer: 2.5 miles
• What notable Native American served as an interpreter between the Pilgrims and Native Americans? Answer: Squanto
• How many passengers were on the Mayflower? Answer: 102
• When was the first Thanksgiving feast held? Answer: November 1621
• What was on the menu of the first Thanksgiving? Answer: Venison, goose, duck, fish, and porridge or bread made from corn
• When was Thanksgiving declared a national celebration? Answer: President George Washington designated November 26 as a Day of National Thanksgiving in 1789.
• In 2022, how many people shopped on Thanksgiving weekend? Answer: A record-breaking 196.7 million consumers, according to the NRF.
• When was it decided that Thanksgiving would be observed on the last Thursday in November? Answer: On Oct. 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, stating the last Thursday in November was Thanksgiving.
• When did the Mayflower officially depart England for America? Answer: September 6, 1620
• How long was the Mayflower’s voyage from England to America? Answer: 66 days
• Where did the Pilgrims first land when arriving on America’s shores? Answer: Provincetown, Massachusetts
• Where did the Pilgrims settle? Answer: Though the Mayflower initially landed off the coast of Cape Cod, they ultimately settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• What was the first official act of legislation by the Pilgrims? Answer: On November 11, 1620, the Mayflower Compact was written and signed by the male Pilgrims and passengers of the Mayflower laying the groundwork for the first government.
• How did the cranberry get its name? Answer: Originally dubbed the "craneberry," Pilgrims likened the pink blossoms that appear on cranberries to the heads of Sandhill Cranes.
• How many cranberries are in one pound? Answer: Roughly 440
• How many cranberries are produced each year? Answer: U.S. farmers harvest approximately 40,000 acres annually
• How long did the first Thanksgiving feast last? Answer: Three days
• How many colonists were living in America in 1620? Answer: Approximately 2,499, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• How many places in the U.S. have the word “Turkey” in their name? Answer: Seven, per the U.S. Census Bureau. Turkey City, Texas; Turkey Creek, Arizona; Turkey Creek, Stone County, Arkansas; Turkey Creek, McPherson County, Kansas; Turkey Creek, Louisiana; Turkey, North Carolina and Turkey Valley, Yankton County, South Dakota
• How many Pilgrims were at the first Thanksgiving harvest feast in 1621? Answer: Approximately 53
• What household hazard triples on Thanksgiving? Answer: Fires. There are more than three times the daily average calls about home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
• How many hours does it take to thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator?Answer: Approximately 24 hours for each four to five pounds of frozen turkey according to the National Grocers Association.
• Once cooked, how long can turkey sit before it should be refrigerated?Answer: No longer than two hours
• How long should leftover turkey be stored? Answer: Leftover turkey can be stored for up to four days in the refrigerator. If turkey is stored in an airtight container, it can be stored in the freezer for up to two years.
• How many Pilgrims survived the first winter in America? Answer: About half
• On average, how many Americans hit the road on Thanksgiving? Answer: Roughly 50 million, according to AAA and INRIX.
• Which Founding Father once proclaimed, “No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day”? Answer: Alexander Hamilton
• When is the worst time to travel for Thanksgiving? Answer: According to AAA and INRIX, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving between noon and 8:00 p.m.
• How many places in the U.S. have the word “Pilgrim” in their name? Answer: Two, per the U.S. Census Bureau — Pilgrim, Michigan and Pilgrim, Dade County, Missouri.
• Which U.S. metro areas experience the worst pre-Thanksgiving congestion? Answer: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City, according to AAA and INRIX.
• How many turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving? Answer: The National Turkey Federation estimates Americans eat about 45 to 46 million on Thanksgiving.
• True or false: Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year.Answer: False. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is the busiest time for travel with upwards of 90 to 100 million Americans traveling during that time, according to AAA.
• True or false: The Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Sioux Native Americans. Answer: False. The Pilgrims joined the Wampanoag Native People (which includes the Mashpee, Aquinnah and Manomet groups) for the first harvest gathering.
• Which state produces the most cranberries? Answer: Wisconsin.
• What are the top ten most popular Thanksgiving foods? Answer (in order): Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, gravy, rolls and bread, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes or yams, apple pie, cranberry sauce and corn, according to a survey by the National Grocers Association.
• What are the three most-disliked Thanksgiving foods? Answer: According to a 2021 survey by The Vacationer, cranberry sauce tops the list followed by turkey and green bean casserole.
• What do Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, Matt Damon and Taylor Swift all have in common? Answer: According to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, they’re all descendants of passengers or crew on the Mayflower.
• True or false: Pilgrim Monument is located at Plymouth Rock. Answer: False. The Pilgrim Monument is located in Provincetown, Massachusetts.