Test your Turkey Day knowledge with this collection of Thanksgiving trivia questions (2024)

It's easy to love Thanksgiving. The November holiday is an entire day devoted to hanging out with loved ones, indulging in your favorite foods and watching movies on the couch.

Whatever Thanksgiving traditions you participate in each year, you might be curious when the first Thanksgiving was held, which U.S. president declared it a national holiday or what the very first Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade commemorated. (Hint: It wasn't Thanksgiving.)

Fortunately, we've got the answers to those Thanksgiving trivia questions and a host of others to entertain you and your turkey crew this year.

Thanksgiving Trivia Questions

Which U.S. president didn't “believe” in Thanksgiving because he thought the holiday was too religious? Answer: Thomas Jefferson
When does Canada celebrate Thanksgiving? Answer: The second Monday in October.
What are the four colors typically associated with Thanksgiving? Answer: Red, orange, yellow and brown
What do you call a baby domestic turkey? Answer: A poult
What 2005 movie about a dysfunctional family Thanksgiving stars Sarah Jessica Parker? Answer: “The Family Stone”
What three things are turkey giblets primarily comprised of? Answer: The gizzard, heart, liver and neck
What crunchy ingredients usually tops green bean casserole? Answer: French fried onions
What comedian performed “The Thanksgiving Song” on Saturday Night Live in 1992? Answer: Adam Sandler
Which Peanuts character wears the chef hat in “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”? Answer: Snoopy
Do male or female turkeys gobble? Answer: Male
What process refers to soaking a turkey in a saltwater solution before cooking it? Answer: Brining
On average, how many questions does the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line field from callers during the holiday season? Answer: 100,000
What family does the pumpkin belong to? Answer: Cucurbitaceae
What four ingredients go into making a basic pie crust? Answer: Flour, salt, water and butter/shortening
According to Lending Tree, how many guests, on average, did Thanksgiving hosts expect to serve in 2023? Answer: 11
In 1995, this popular Thanksgiving vegetable was the first to be grown in space. Answer: The potato
With 15 Best in Show titles, what dog breed has had the most wins at the National Dog Show (which airs on Thanksgiving Day)? Answer: Wire Fox Terrier
Around how many calories are in a half-cup serving of bread stuffing? Answer: 118
In 2023, which state raised the most turkeys? Answer: Minnesota
How many balloons were 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
According to Macy's, roughly 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: Approximately 3000
How many minutes a day does the average American (15 and older) spend eating and drinking? Answer: 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
What hurricane made landfall on Thanksgiving Day 2016? Answer: Hurricane Otto
Which is the most popular day to shop during Thanksgiving weekend? Answer: Black Friday
On Thanksgiving Day 1989, what weather event disrupted the Macy’s parade? Answer: Snow. On Nov. 23, 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. The 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: George H.W. Bush. In 1989, 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 shoppers spent money on over Thanksgiving weekend in 2023? Answer: Clothing, toys and gift cards
Which U.S. Founding Father famously referred to turkeys as “a bird of courage”?Answer: Benjamin Franklin
According to a YouGov survey, what three things do Americans report being most thankful for? Answer: Family, health and life
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
How long can a turkey be stored in the freezer? Answer: An unopened whole turkey can be frozen for up to two years
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: 1789 (President George Washington designated November 26 as a Day of National Thanksgiving)
In 2023, approximately how many people shopped over Thanksgiving weekend? Answer: 200.4 million
In 1863, what U.S. president decided that Thanksgiving would be observed on the last Thursday in November? Answer: Abraham Lincoln.
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: Plymouth, Massachusetts
What was the first official act of legislation by the Pilgrims? Answer: The Mayflower Compact
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
Approximately how many cranberries are in one pound? Answer: 440
How many cranberries are produced each year? Answer: Approximately 40,000 acres
How long did the first Thanksgiving feast last? Answer: Three days
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately how many colonists were living in America in 1620? Answer: 2,499
How many places in the U.S. have the word “Turkey” in their name? Answer: Seven. 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 approximately how many Pilgrims were at the first Thanksgiving harvest feast in 1621? Answer: 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.
According to the National Grocers 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
Once cooked, how long can turkey sit before it should be refrigerated?Answer: No longer than two hours
How long can leftover turkey be stored? Answer: Up to four days in the refrigerator
Approximately how many Pilgrims survived the first winter in America? Answer: Half
According to AAA and INRIX, approximately how many Americans take to the roads on Thanksgiving? Answer: 50 million
Which Founding Father once proclaimed, “No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day”? Answer: Alexander Hamilton
According to AAA and INRIX, when is the worst time to travel during Thanksgiving weekend? Answer: 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. 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.
According to the National Turkey Federation, roughly how many turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving? Answer: About 45 to 46 million
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
According to the National Grocers Association, 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 2021 survey by The Vacationer, what are the three most-disliked Thanksgiving foods? Answer: Cranberry sauce followed by turkey and green bean casserole
What do Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, Matt Damon and Taylor Swift all have in common? Answer: They are all descendents 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.

Sarah Lemire

Sarah Lemire is a lifestyle and entertainment reporter for TODAY based in New York City. She covers holidays, celebrities and everything in between.

Test your Turkey Day knowledge with this collection of Thanksgiving trivia questions (2024)

Thanksgiving Trivia Questions

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