Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers are a fun way to engage with family and friends during the holiday. From the history of the first Thanksgiving to interesting facts about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, there is a wide range of trivia to test your knowledge.
Some quirky and silly questions can also add a lighthearted touch to the festivities. Whether you’re gathered around the table or looking for some entertainment during the day, Thanksgiving trivia is sure to be a hit. So, grab a turkey leg and get ready to impress your loved ones with your Thanksgiving knowledge.
The History Of Thanksgiving
The history of Thanksgiving can be traced back to the early days of European colonization of North America. Both the English colonists and the Native Americans held regular days of thanksgiving to celebrate good harvests, safe journeys, and other blessings.
In 1621, the Plymouth colonists held a three-day harvest feast with their Wampanoag neighbors. This feast is often referred to as the first Thanksgiving. While it is true that the Pilgrims had held other days of thanksgiving in the past, this particular feast is significant because it was the first time that the colonists and the Wampanoag had celebrated together.
Over the next two centuries, individual colonies and states continued to celebrate days of thanksgiving, but there was no national holiday. In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held on the last Thursday of November. Lincoln hoped that this holiday would help to heal the divisions in the country and bring Americans together.
Thanksgiving Day became a permanent federal holiday in 1941, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the fourth Thursday of November as the day on which it would be celebrated.
Today, Thanksgiving is a time for Americans to come together with their families and friends to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. It is also a time to reflect on the history of the holiday and the relationship between the Native Americans and the European colonists.
Fun Facts About Thanksgiving
- Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving.
- The history of U.S. presidents pardoning turkeys is patchy.
- Thanksgiving used to look like Halloween.
- There are three U.S. towns named Turkey.
- The author of Mary Had a Little Lamb is responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday.
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons used to float off all willy-nilly into the sky.
- What are silly questions for Thanksgiving?
- What are you most thankful for this year?
- If you could redo yesterday, what would you do?
- If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would they be?
- If you could be famous for something, what would it be?
- There are various unusual Thanksgiving traditions practiced around the world. Some examples include…
Thanksgiving Trivia Questions And Answers
Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers are a fun way to test your knowledge of the holiday and its history
. They can be about anything related to Thanksgiving, such as food, traditions, customs, and famous Thanksgiving figures. Some common Thanksgiving trivia questions include.
Here are 101 Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers categorized for your enjoyment:
History Thanksgiving Trivia Questions And Answers
- Who is often credited with organizing the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth in 1621?
Answer: Governor William Bradford - In what year did Thanksgiving become an official national holiday in the United States?
Answer: 1863 - Which U.S. president proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln - What Native American tribe is commonly associated with the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Wampanoag - The Mayflower brought the Pilgrims to America. Where did they depart from?
Answer: Plymouth, England
Thanksgiving Traditions
- What is the traditional meat served at Thanksgiving dinners in the United States?
Answer: Turkey - What popular side dish is made from cornmeal, milk, and butter, baked to a golden brown?
Answer: Cornbread - What is the name of the dessert traditionally made from pumpkins and served on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Pumpkin pie - What is the act of sharing what you’re thankful for before the Thanksgiving meal called?
Answer: Saying grace - Which famous parade is held annually on Thanksgiving Day in New York City?
Answer: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Food Thanksgiving Trivia Questions And Answers
- What type of berry is often used to make cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving?
Answer: Cranberry - What dessert is made by rolling up a sponge cake with a sweet filling, often flavored with chocolate or fruit?
Answer: Swiss roll - What is the term for the mix of diced vegetables and turkey used to make Thanksgiving stuffing?
Answer: Dressing - What type of nuts are often used in stuffing, giving it a nutty flavor and crunch?
Answer: Pecans - What type of bread is traditionally used to make the bread-based part of Thanksgiving stuffing?
Answer: White bread or cornbread
Thanksgiving Fun and Games
- What is the name of the annual NFL game played on Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: The Thanksgiving Classic - Which team hosts the annual Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit?
Answer: Detroit Lions - What is the game where two people pull apart the dried bone of a wishbone called?
Answer: Breaking the wishbone - What popular card game is often played after Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Bridge - What’s the name of the object traditionally hidden in a dish for a special wish, often in the Thanksgiving stuffing?
Answer: A wishbone
Thanksgiving Decorations
- What orange, round, and hollow item is often used to make Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations?
Answer: Pumpkin - What type of colorful vegetables are used to make decorative Thanksgiving centerpieces?
Answer: Gourds - What do people carve and light to decorate their homes during Thanksgiving and Halloween?
Answer: Jack-o’-lanterns - What do people hang in their homes, often with the words Give Thanks during the Thanksgiving season?
Answer: Banners or signs - What traditional Thanksgiving plant is known for its bright red, orange, and yellow leaves?
Answer: The poinsettia
Thanksgiving Traditions Around the World
- In Canada, on which day is Thanksgiving celebrated?
Answer: The second Monday in October - In what country is the festival of Chuseok similar to Thanksgiving, celebrated in the fall with feasting and gratitude?
Answer: South Korea - In Japan, what holiday is somewhat similar to Thanksgiving and involves giving thanks for labor and production?
Answer: Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrō Kansha no Hi) - What is the name of the similar holiday to Thanksgiving celebrated in Liberia?
Answer: Harper’s Birthday - In what month is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?
Answer: November
Thanksgiving Symbols
- What symbol represents a fruitful harvest and is often used in Thanksgiving decorations?
Answer: Cornucopia - What bird is often associated with Thanksgiving and is a symbol of the United States?
Answer: Bald eagle - What symbol of the harvest season is made by weaving together dry cornstalks?
Answer: Corn dolly or corn maiden - Which large, flightless bird is native to North America and is often eaten at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Turkey - What symbol is made from woven straw or rushes, typically in the shape of a hollow horn, and is often used in Thanksgiving decor?
Answer: Cornucopia
Thanksgiving Songs
- Who wrote the famous Thanksgiving song, Alice’s Restaurant Massacree?
Answer: Arlo Guthrie - What famous singer recorded the song Thanksgiving in 2009, which became a modern Thanksgiving classic?
Answer: George Winston - What Thanksgiving-themed song includes the lyrics Over the river and through the woods?
Answer: Over the River and Through the Woods - Who performed the song Thanksgiving Song on Saturday Night Live in 1992, which humorously mentions various Thanksgiving foods?
Answer: Adam Sandler - What famous singer recorded Thanksgiving Prayer, a song about the holiday\’s meaning?
Answer: Johnny Cash
Literature Thanksgiving Trivia Questions And Answers
- In which children’s book do the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians come together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh - Who wrote the poem The Pumpkin that celebrates the Thanksgiving season?
Answer: John Greenleaf Whittier - In what short story by O. Henry do a husband and wife sacrifice their most prized possessions to give each other a special gift for Thanksgiving?
Answer: The Gift of the Magi - Which poet penned the Thanksgiving poem Over the River and Through the Wood?
Answer: Lydia Maria Child - Who wrote Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ a children’s book about the chaos of Thanksgiving preparations?
Answer: Eileen Spinelli
Movies Thanksgiving Trivia Questions And Answers
- What 1987 movie tells the story of an unconventional family Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - In the film A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, what food does Snoopy serve at the Peanuts gang’s Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Popcorn and toast - What 2013 Disney animated film features a character named Olaf experiencing his first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Frozen - What movie, released in 1993, portrays the story of the first Thanksgiving with animated characters?
Answer: The Addams Family Values - In the movie Pieces of April, what dish does April attempt to make for her family’s Thanksgiving meal?
Answer: Roast turkey
Thanksgiving Travel
- What is the busiest travel day of the year in the United States, occurring during Thanksgiving week?
Answer: The Wednesday before Thanksgiving - In the United States, what is the term for the Sunday after Thanksgiving, known for its high volume of travelers returning home?
Answer: Getaway Sunday or Return Day - Which mode of transportation is most commonly used for Thanksgiving travel in the U.S.?
Answer: Automobiles or cars - What is the name of the toll-free telephone number provided by AAA to assist stranded travelers during Thanksgiving?
Answer: AAA Roadside Assistance - What type of vehicles are used for the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Answer: Inflatable balloons
Thanksgiving in Pop Culture
- In the TV show Friends, which character hates Thanksgiving and ends up with a turkey on their head?
Answer: Joey Tribbiani - What animated film features a character named Pardon-Me-Pete, a turkey who tries to escape being Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Free Birds - In the TV show The West Wing, President Josiah Bartlet pardons a turkey every year for Thanksgiving. What is the name of the turkey?
Answer: Charlie - What 1995 Disney movie is about a group of animated animals who come together to celebrate Thanksgiving?
Answer: Pocahontas - What classic sitcom featured the iconic turkey drop Thanksgiving episode, where a giant turkey is thrown from a helicopter?
Answer: WKRP in Cincinnati
Thanksgiving Science
- What happens to a turkey when it is cooked that gives the skin a brown, crispy texture?
Answer: Maillard reaction - What gas is released when yeast ferments and makes bread dough rise, causing it to expand and become fluffy?
Answer: Carbon dioxide - What fruit’s enzymes can be used to tenderize meat, making it a popular choice for marinating turkey?
Answer: Pineapple - What is the chemical compound in turkey that is often blamed for making people sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Tryptophan - What is the scientific name for the process of turning liquid into a solid, as in the case of gravy thickening?
Answer: Gelatinization
Thanksgiving Presidential Turkey Pardon
- Which U.S. president is credited with starting the tradition of pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey?
Answer: Ronald Reagan - What is the name of the official annual Thanksgiving turkey that is presented to the President of the United States?
Answer: The National Thanksgiving Turkey - What happens to the pardoned turkey after the Thanksgiving Presidential Turkey Pardon ceremony?
Answer: The turkey is sent to live on a farm or at a designated location, often as a guest of honor. - Who typically performs the Thanksgiving Presidential Turkey Pardon?
Answer: The President of the United States - In what year did the first official presidential turkey pardon ceremony take place?
Answer: 1947
Thanksgiving Traditions Beyond Food
- In which U.S. state is the tradition of turkey bowling popular, where frozen turkeys are used to knock down pins?
Answer: California - What is the name of the annual charity race held on Thanksgiving Day in various locations, often referred to as a turkey trot?
Answer: Thanksgiving Turkey Trot - In the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, what character is famous for appearing as a giant balloon?
Answer: Snoopy - What Thanksgiving tradition involves taking advantage of Black Friday sales right after the holiday?
Answer: Black Friday shopping - What traditional game is often played by American children at Thanksgiving, where one child is chosen to be it and tries to tag the others?
Answer: Tag or Tag, You’re It
Thanksgiving Native American Contributions
- What vegetable did Native Americans introduce to the Pilgrims, which became a staple of the Thanksgiving meal?
Answer: Corn (maize) - What agricultural technique did Native Americans teach the Pilgrims, which involved planting fish alongside crops to provide nutrients?
Answer: Three Sisters planting (corn, beans, and squash) - What Native American dish made from dried meat, fat, and berries is often cited as an inspiration for modern beef jerky?
Answer: Pemmican - What wooden structure, used by Native Americans to store maize and other foods, influenced the design of the iconic American barn?
Answer: Corn crib - What Native American cooking method, involving placing food on a wooden stake and roasting it over an open flame, was adopted by the early settlers?
Answer: Spit roasting
Thanksgiving Traditions and Manners
- What is the traditional way to show gratitude for a Thanksgiving meal?
Answer: Saying thank you or expressing thanks - At the Thanksgiving table, what is the polite way to request something be passed to you?
Answer: Saying please pass [item] - What is the polite way to signal that you are finished with your meal at the Thanksgiving table?
Answer: Placing your napkin on your plate - What is the tradition of going around the table and each person saying what they are thankful for called?
Answer: Sharing what you’re thankful for - In a traditional Thanksgiving setting, what should you do if you accidentally spill something on the tablecloth?
Answer: Blot the stain and apologize
Thanksgiving Gratitude
- What is the common phrase associated with Thanksgiving that encourages people to focus on the positives in their life?
Answer: Count your blessings - In the Bible, what verse instructs believers to give thanks in all circumstances?
Answer: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Who wrote the famous hymn We Gather Together, often sung on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Adrianus Valerius (text) and Eduard Kremser (music) - What is the name of the practice of writing down things you’re thankful for in a journal or diary?
Answer: Gratitude journaling - What is the act of showing appreciation and kindness to others, often through deeds, called?
Answer: Acts of kindness or gratitude
Thanksgiving Vocabulary
- What is the word for a piece of bread that is soaked in a mixture of eggs and milk and then fried or baked?
Answer: French toast - What is the term for the dish that typically consists of seasoned bread crumbs and other ingredients, cooked inside the turkey?
Answer: Stuffing - What is the word for the small, round dish used for individual servings of food, often used for desserts at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Ramekin - What is the term for the pieces of food, such as vegetables or herbs, used to enhance the flavor of a dish?
Answer: Seasonings - What is the word for a sweet or savory dish made from dough, rolled out and folded over a filling, then baked?
Answer: Pie
Thanksgiving Table Settings
- What is the name of the large spoon with a flat serving area used to serve side dishes at the Thanksgiving table?
Answer: Serving spoon - What utensil, typically with sharp points and used for cutting, is placed to the right of the dinner plate at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Knife - What small utensil, with a rounded scoop on one end and a flat edge on the other, is used to scoop butter or other toppings at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Butter knife - What is the name for the large, shallow dish with a wide rim, used to serve the main course at Thanksgiving?
Answer: Serving platter - What is the term for the small plate, often used for bread or as a resting place for utensils, found at the Thanksgiving table setting?
Answer: Bread plate or side plate
101. What is the name of the utensil used for stirring drinks and beverages, often placed at the Thanksgiving table setting?
Answer: Stirring stick or swizzle stick
Enjoy your Thanksgiving trivia game, and may you have a wonderful holiday with friends and family!
FAQs About Thanksgiving Trivia Questions And Answers
What Are Some Trivia Questions For Thanksgiving?
Some Thanksgiving trivia questions include: What was missing from the first Thanksgiving feast? How long did the first Thanksgiving last? Where was the first Thanksgiving in the U. S. ? What was missing from the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Has Thanksgiving always been the last week of November?
What Are 5 Cool Facts About Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving trivia: Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. U. S. presidents pardoning turkeys is patchy. Thanksgiving used to look like Halloween. Three U. S. towns are named Turkey. The author of Mary Had a Little Lamb made Thanksgiving a national holiday.
What Are 10 Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving?
1. Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. 2. U. S. presidents pardoning turkeys is a patchy tradition. 3. Thanksgiving used to look like Halloween. 4. There are three U. S. towns named Turkey. 5. The author of Mary Had a Little Lamb made Thanksgiving a national holiday.
6. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons used to float off randomly into the sky. 7. What are some silly questions for Thanksgiving? 8. What are you most thankful for this year? 9. If you could redo yesterday, what would you do?
10. If you could only eat three things for life, what would they be?
What Are Silly Questions For Thanksgiving?
Here are some silly Thanksgiving questions: 1. What would you do if the turkey started talking? 2. If you could only eat mashed potatoes for the rest of your life, would you do it? 3. What if instead of a turkey, we had a giant pumpkin as the centerpiece?
4. If the Pilgrims had celebrated Thanksgiving on the moon, what would we eat? 5. What if the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade featured dancing turkeys instead of balloons?
Conclusion
As you gather around the Thanksgiving table with your loved ones, why not test your knowledge with some fun and interesting trivia questions? From the history of the first Thanksgiving to quirky facts about the holiday, these questions are sure to entertain and educate.
So, whether you’re looking to challenge your family or simply learn something new, give these Thanksgiving trivia questions a try. Who knows, you might just become the ultimate Thanksgiving trivia champion!
