Tetra Images/Getty Images
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Cyndi Monaghan/Moment RF/Getty Images
CNN’s Thanksgiving Quiz 2024
How well do you know these Thanksgiving facts and foods? Take CNN’s Thanksgiving quiz!
Keep up with the news you need. Sign up for the 5 Things newsletter.
Where did the Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?
The first Thanksgiving was observed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. A good autumn harvest led the Pilgrims to hold a feast to give thanks that lasted for three days.
President Joe Biden pardoned two turkeys at the White House this week. What are the birds’ names?
President Biden pardoned “Peach” and “Blossom” at the annual White House turkey presentation on Monday.
Which US president issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation?
On October 3, 1789, George Washington issued his Thanksgiving proclamation, designating “a day of public thanks-giving” to be held on “Thursday the 26th day of November” that year. Abraham Lincoln would later declare Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863.
Turkey is typically the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner. Which US state raises the most turkeys?
Minnesota usually raises the most turkeys, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Around 38 million birds were raised in the state in 2023, followed by 29 million raised in North Carolina.
What is the average price for a 16-pound turkey this year?
The average price for a 16-pound turkey is $25.67, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, down 6.1% from last year.
Which Thanksgiving dish was invented in the 1950s by a Campbell Soup Company employee?
A Campbell's home economist named Dorcas Reilly invented the “Green Bean Bake,” as it was first called, as a new way to use Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup. It wasn’t originally intended as a Thanksgiving favorite, but it quickly became one.
Cranberry sauce is a holiday staple. How many pounds of cranberries do Americans consume during Thanksgiving week?
Americans consume 80 million pounds of cranberries during Thanksgiving week and nearly 400 million pounds total per year — mostly in the form of juice or juice blends.
Parades are a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition. Where was the first Thanksgiving Day parade in the US?
Philadelphia’s Gimbel Brothers Department Store staged a Thanksgiving procession in 1920 with 50 people, 15 cars and a fireman dressed as Santa Claus to usher in the holiday shopping season. Macy’s in New York held its first parade in 1924.
Another Thanksgiving tradition is football. Which NFL team has played the most games on Thanksgiving Day?
The Detroit Lions, who play every year on Thanksgiving, first began that tradition in 1934 — done in an effort to increase their brand and put fans in the stands.
What is the organic compound in turkey that often gets the blame for making you sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner?
Turkey contains tryptophan, which is often believed to be responsible for the uncontrollable yawns and sudden snoozes common after huge family feasts. However, experts say turkey isn’t the only food you should blame for your post-meal sleepiness.
