Thanksgiving Trivia

I extend my warmest wishes for a joyful and safe Thanksgiving to all who subscribe to the Wizard of Odds newsletter. To commemorate this occasion, I've gathered some interesting Thanksgiving trivia that you can share with family during your holiday meal.

Questions

1. Which U.S. president was the first to grant a pardon to a turkey during Thanksgiving?
2. What dish was served as the main attraction at the inaugural Thanksgiving feast?
3. Who was the president responsible for establishing Thanksgiving as a federal holiday?
4. Which Native American group participated in the original Thanksgiving celebration alongside the Pilgrims?
5. On what date is Thanksgiving observed in Canada?
6. Which gender of turkeys gobble?
7. Excluding 'Black Friday,' what special day is recognized the day after Thanksgiving?
8. Who was the driving force behind making Thanksgiving a national holiday, and what other achievements is this person known for?
9. In the past, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday of October. Which president altered the date to the fourth Thursday of November?
10. Numerous nations hold their own harvest festivities during the late fall. What is the name of this celebration in the United Kingdom?
11. What was the name of the turkey pardoned in 2020? Which turkey lost in the unofficial White House Twitter election determining which bird would be spared?

Answers

1. The details surrounding this question are somewhat unclear and depend on the interpretation of the term 'pardon.' Most references attribute this to Harry S. Truman, who famously saved a Thanksgiving turkey. There's also an anecdote about Abraham Lincoln sparing a turkey at the behest of his son Tad. It is likely that several presidents between Lincoln and Truman granted pardons too, as they were often gifted turkeys. However, these instances didn't technically qualify as 'pardons.' The earliest known usage of the term 'pardon' in this context comes from George H.W. Bush.
   For more information, please see Which president is credited with starting the custom of pardoning a turkey on Thanksgiving?
2. While it remains uncertain, it is widely believed that the first Thanksgiving meal likely featured a lot of venison and seafood.
3. Lincoln.
4. The Wampanoag.
5. Second Monday in October.
6. Male.
7. Native American Heritage Day.
8. Sarah Josepha Hale, who is also well-known for writing the beloved nursery rhyme 'Mary Had a Little Lamb.'
9. Franklin Roosevelt.
10. The Harvest Festival.
11. The turkey that received the pardon was named Corn, while Cob was the turkey that did not. Typically, the president spares both birds, but that wasn't the case this year. Personally, I would have chosen Cob, as he enjoys pickleball, puzzles, and cycling—activities I also like.
    For additional details regarding Corn and Cob, kindly refer to President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to 'Corn,' the White House turkey for 2020. .

Source for most questions: Wikipedia

Written by: Michael Shackleford