Even if you don’t live in the US, you know the essential facts about Thanksgiving. Movies, TV shows, and pop culture in general made sure people all over the world knew about this day. And though it is mostly known as an American holiday, there are many cultures that have a similar celebration.
While in the US, the history of Thanksgiving is closely related to the first settlers, in many other countries, it is the native population who celebrate the harvest season and offer their gratitude for having grown enough food for a year. The first American Thanksgiving celebration recorded in history is traced back to the early 1620s, though there is quite a bit of debate around the exact date, as there were two types of thanksgiving practices: a religious ceremony and a festive celebration, which, though having similar elements, were still pretty different.
Whenever it may have occurred for the first time, Thanksgiving is definitely one of America’s most beloved holidays. And what is a Thanksgiving celebration without a traditional dinner with turkey! Did you know that the average turkey weight for an adult male turkey can reach up to 24 pounds (11 kilograms)? And that’s only one of the traditional dishes you will be offered at the table.
Whether you are going to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and loved ones or just want to know more about the holiday, we have collected interesting facts about Thanksgiving that you can share with others during the dinner. Make sure you let us know in the comments which one caused the biggest discussion, and have a happy Thanksgiving!
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Strong winds almost ruined the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1997. Driven by heavy winds, a six-story Cat in the Hat balloon had slammed into a lamppost, scattering debris onto spectators.
For plumbers, the day after Thanksgiving is their busiest day of the year. It's called 'Black Friday'.
Turkeys are named after the country due to misconceptions about birds.
One Thanksgiving, a live raccoon was gifted to Calvin Coolidge.
The first Thanksgiving is said to have taken place in two Texas towns.
Cranberries provided a variety of purposes for Native Americans on Thanksgiving.
Native Americans ate cranberries as fresh fruit, dried the fruit and formed them into cakes to store, also made cranberry sauce, as well as tea out of the leaves. They also used the cranberry to make dye for their rugs and blankets and found the cranberry plant to be valuable for medicinal purposes.
On Thanksgiving, 60% of Americans would prefer to do anything but reflect on their thankfulness.
An average person eats 4500 calories on Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin pie has been beloved for a long time — although, apple pies are still America's favorite.
Richard Nixon sent his turkey to a petting zoo.
Every Thanksgiving, Americans consume 736 million pounds of turkey.
Thanksgiving is celebrated entirely differently in Canada. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. It started in 1859 when Protestant leaders called on the colonial government to create a day for giving thanks.
Before 1997, there were no restrictions on the size of balloons used in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The National Football League did not exist when the first Thanksgiving "football" game was played.
The Detroit Lions have played every Thanksgiving day. The 6 legged roasted turkey is part of the celebration.
The most popular day for racing in the U.S. is Thanksgiving.
The only night when Americans consume significantly more alcohol is the night before Thanksgiving, which is called 'Drinksgiving'.
Originally, Thanksgiving may not have been celebrated in November at all.
The most common Thanksgiving beverage is red wine.
The majority of the thickening that comes with aging is caused by holiday weight gain.
The British don’t officially celebrate Thanksgiving, but they do celebrate "Brits-giving."
The author of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' also succeeded in getting Thanksgiving established as a federal holiday.
Thanksgiving was once celebrated on the 3rd Thursday in November.
The menu for the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth in 1621 likely included lobster, seal, and swans.
Each year on the 4th Thursday in November recognizes the 'National Day of Mourning'. The observance is an opportunity to reflect on Native American heritage and the role Thanksgiving played in the lives of their ancestors.
Turkey females don't gobble.
In the past, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons were simply released after the performance.
In 2011, the Turkey trot in Dallas Texas set up a world record for the largest gathering of humans dressed up as turkeys.
It was slightly ironic when George H.W. Bush "pardoned" a turkey in his official role.
