Thanksgiving Quiz: History and Traditions
Who was the governor of Massachusetts in 1621 and arranged for a harvest festival known as Thanksgiving today?
- Bradford came to New England on the Mayflower in 1620, and in 1621, on the death of John Carver, was chosen leader of the Pilgrims.
What American poet and editor lobbied for years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday?
- By the mid-1800s, many states observed a Thanksgiving holiday.
What southern Thanksgiving dish consists of a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken?
- The recipe originates in Louisiana. Each slice contains portions of chicken, duck, and turkey with stuffing in between the layers.
What national sporting league has held a game on Thanksgiving Day since its creation?
- Football has become as much a tradition as the turkey for many Americans on Thanksgiving.
In 1621, the first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in what Massachusetts colony?
- The first Thanksgiving was held to commemorate the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony after a harsh winter.
What U.S. president tried to change the date of Thanksgiving to the third weekend in November to extend the Christmas shopping season?
- Controversy followed, and Congress passed a joint resolution in 1941 decreeing that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November, where it remains.
In addition to turkey, which of the following foods were present at the first meal of Thanksgiving shared by the pilgrims and the Wampanoag?
- During the first winter in 1621, close to half of the pilgrim population died. The remaining pilgrims decided to celebrate their harvest with a feast.
Each year since 1989, the President of the United States has pardoned a turkey for Thanksgiving in a ceremony at what national building?
- For fifteen years through 2004, the turkeys were given to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia.
In what city is the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade held?
- The first Macy's-sponsored Thanksgiving parade took place in 1924.
In 1863, what U.S. president declared that Thanksgiving would be observed as a national holiday on the last Thursday in November?
- Looking for ways to unite the nation, Lincoln gave his Thanksgiving Proclamation, declaring the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving.
