100 Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Quiz (Part 1)

[C] Three days | The Pilgrims and Wampanoag partied for 72 hours straight in 1621, making modern Thanksgiving look like a quick snack. They probably needed that Monday off to recover from all the venison and fowl.

[D] Lobster, oysters, fish, and possibly eel | Forget turkey sandwiches, the Pilgrims were slurping oysters and munching lobster like they owned Martha's Vineyard. Eel was considered a delicacy back then, which explains why nobody recreates authentic Thanksgiving menus.

[B] The second Monday of October | Canadians get their turkey fix six weeks early, probably because they're too polite to make anyone cook during American football season. Plus, October in Canada means you can still find unfrozen vegetables.

[B] About 50 million | Americans demolish enough pumpkin pies to circle the Earth if you lined them up, which nobody does because that's weird. That's roughly one pie for every seven Americans, assuming perfect pie distribution.

[C] James Madison | He famously proclaimed two national days of thanks in one year—a quirky scheduling footnote that shows how fluid early Thanksgiving observances could be before the holiday’s timing later standardized.

[D] Mary Had a Little Lamb | The same woman who gave us fleece-following sheep also pestered Lincoln for 17 years about Thanksgiving. Her persistence proves that annoying politicians sometimes actually works.

[A] 1955 | Campbell's soup created this mushroom soup masterpiece to sell more cream of mushroom, obviously. Six decades later, we're still topping vegetables with crispy onions and calling it tradition.

[A] The Battle of Saratoga | After winning at Saratoga in 1777, troops celebrated with thanksgiving while the British wondered what happened. Nothing says gratitude like defeating professional soldiers with farmer militias.

[C] Detroit | The parade culminates with Santa being presented the city’s key—a ceremonial handoff that doubles as an upbeat kickoff to the broader holiday season.

[A] The Fork | The Pilgrims used spoons, knives, and their hands. Forks weren't popularized in America until the 18th century, meaning the first Thanksgiving was a much messier affair.

[C] A National Day of Mourning for Native Americans | Since 1970, Native Americans gather to remember their perspective on colonization while tourists look confused. It's a powerful reminder that Thanksgiving has different meanings depending on which side of history you're on.

[C] Arlo Guthrie's 'Alice's Restaurant' | This anti-war song about littering and draft dodging somehow became Thanksgiving tradition. Radio DJs love it because it gives them 18 minutes to eat leftovers.

[D] 1992 | Sandler taught America that turkey makes you sleepy way before Google existed to fact-check it. The song remains SNL's contribution to Thanksgiving culture, for better or worse.

[A] Thomas Jefferson | During his presidency he declined to endorse a national Thanksgiving, reflecting his caution about federal proclamations of religious-leaning observances in that era’s evolving tradition.

[D] Planes, Trains and Automobiles | This 1987 comedy is a Thanksgiving staple, proving that the journey home for turkey can be more memorable (and disastrous) than the meal itself.

[C] 1876 | Holiday gridiron clashes go way back—the 1870s collegiate scene helped cement football as part of the day’s festivities, long before modern pro matchups dominated Thanksgiving TV.

[A] Plumbers | Garbage disposals and toilets face their ultimate test when households double in occupancy. Plumbers charge holiday rates to unclog what grandma shouldn't have flushed.

[D] Apple pie | Despite pumpkin's Thanksgiving dominance, apple pie wins year-round popularity contests decisively. Pumpkin pie is basically seasonal, while apple pie has permanent resident status.

[B] Male turkeys | Only male turkeys gobble, using it to attract females and intimidate other males. Female turkeys make clicking sounds, preferring subtle communication over obnoxious gobbling.

[B] September | Historians believe the 1621 feast happened in September or early October, not November. The Pilgrims didn't have football schedules to work around.

[D] A snood | The snood changes color based on the turkey's mood, like a built-in emotion detector. When excited, it turns bright red, making turkeys terrible poker players.

[A] Norfolk Island | This tiny Australian territory celebrates Thanksgiving thanks to American whalers who visited in the 1890s. Population 1,750 people who inexplicably eat pumpkin pie in the Southern Hemisphere.

[A] Minnesota | The Land of 10,000 Lakes is also the land of about 40 million turkeys a year, making it the undisputed champion of Thanksgiving poultry production.

[D] About 12 percent | Roughly one in eight Americans choose ham, lasagna, or Tofurky instead of tradition. They're the ones who bring interesting dishes to potlucks while everyone else brings rolls.

[B] 1896 | Buffalo YMCA started the tradition of running before eating yourself into a coma. Six runners showed up, which is still more than most people's gym attendance.

[C] Buffalo, New York | Buffalo invented the pre-feast fitness tradition that now tortures millions nationwide. They run 8K in freezing weather because apparently turkey tastes better when earned.

[A] With the arrival of Santa Claus | Santa crashes Thanksgiving's party every year, starting Christmas season before dishes are washed. Retail stores everywhere thank him for this aggressive schedule advancement.

[D] 1928 | Felix the Cat led the balloon brigade, floating away when released because nobody thought that through. They offered rewards for returned balloons, creating history's weirdest treasure hunt.

[B] About 3.5 million | More people watch giant balloons than live in many states, standing in freezing weather voluntarily. Half are tourists who didn't pack appropriate coats.

[B] About 8,000 | Between dancers, bands, and balloon wranglers, it's basically a small town on the move. The balloon handlers alone need 90 people per giant character.