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About This Quiz
Thanksgiving is a beloved American tradition that makes us all homesick for eating a slice of Mom's pumpkin pie while the kids dress up as Pilgrims and turkeys. But how well do you know the holiday's origins?
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the settlers of what colony?
Jamestown
Roanoke
Salem
Plymouth
Plymouth Colony, the site of modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, existed from 1620 to 1691. The colony eventually ceased to exist when it was absorbed by the Province of Massachusetts Bay (a technicality that was aided by the legal loophole that Plymouth never got around to making a formal charter, a document that could have helped keep it independent).
What term were the Plymouth settlers commonly known by?
Puritans
Voyagers
Pilgrims
For most of modern history, people have thought the words "Pilgrim" and "Puritan" to be interchangeable, but this is not the case. Pilgrims, or as they were actually called, Brownist English Dissenters, were actually Puritans but felt the religious group could not continue to exist without separating completely from the Church of England.
Quakers
From where did the Pilgrims originate?
France
The Netherlands
England
It's true that the Pilgrims were English and set sail from Plymouth, Devon, England. However, many people might not know that the religious sect spent over a decade in Leiden, The Netherlands. They ultimately returned to England, fearing that their children were becoming too Dutch.
Spain
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What is the name of the ship that brought the settlers to the New World?
The S.S. Minnow
The Swiftsure
The Speedwell
The Mayflower
Originally, the Pilgrims purchased two boats to bring them to America, The Mayflower and The Speedwell (originally called The Swiftsure). However, shortly after departure, The Speedwell began taking on water and was deemed unsafe. The supplies and passengers were crammed into The Mayflower, and the voyage was made with one ship.
How many settlers survived the dangerous and deadly first winter in Plymouth?
one third
one quarter
one half
Due to a storm that broke its mast, the Mayflower was unable to steer and ended up much farther north than anticipated. To make matters worse, the Pilgrims arrived in the middle of December. Several members of the colony froze to death, many were injured, and the quickly depleting supply stores led to starvation.
one sixth
What is the name of the Native American who helped the Pilgrims survive?
Pocahontas
Ianto
Tonto
Squanto
Squanto was a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who knew English after having sailed across the sea and spending time in England. But it is not a happy story. He sailed aboard a slave ship as a prisoner and most of his time in England was spent in captivity. Eventually, he was able to secure a spot on an exploratory expedition, which brought him back to his homeland, where he broke free.
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Which skill is NOT something Squanto taught the colonists?
Hunting with arrows
Squanto taught the colonists many survival skills, but bow-hunting was not one of them. He did teach them how to plant corn and other vegetables, how to catch fish in a river, how to get maple sap from trees, and which local plants were poisonous.
Growing corn
Catching fish
Extracting maple sap
Squanto helped to forge an alliance between the Pilgrims and the members of which Native American group?
Pawtuxet
Sioux
Wampanoag
Many people assume that Squanto was a member of the tribe invited to the first Thanksgiving, but the truth is not that simple. Squanto was from the Pawtuxet tribe, which is a part of the Wampanoag Confederacy. Since the Pawtuxet were largely wiped out by the time Squanto managed to return home, he ended up with the Pokanoket tribe, led by Massasoit. Since Massasoit was sachem of Wampanoag, all the tribes were included in the alliance.
Iroquois
What fruit is used to make a sauce at Thanksgiving?
Apples
Cranberries
Cranberry sauce has become a staple of Thanksgiving, but it was likely not in sauce form at Plymouth. Historians believe that the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims ate plain cranberries. The settlers named the berries crane-berries because the flowers that grow on cranberry plants resembled the long neck of a crane. Interesting tidbit: ripe cranberries bounce.
Blueberries
Tomatoes
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How long did the feast last?
One day
Two days
Three days
The first Thanksgiving lasted three days. According to Pilgrim Edward Winslow, the feast was attended by 53 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans.
Four days
What meat was not served at the feast?
Venison
Turkey
Despite its modern popularity, turkey was not served at the first Thanksgiving. Historians believe the menu consisted of venison (deer), duck, goose, oysters, lobsters, eel, and fish.
Goose
Lobster
What kind of pie did the Pilgrims make for the feast?
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Cherry pie
There was no pie.
There were no pies, cakes, or any other pastries served at the first Thanksgiving. This is for two reasons. First of all, the Pilgrims had no ovens in which to bake pies. Secondly, what little sugar they had brought with them had long since been depleted, making baked goods impossible.
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Which state was the first to make Thanksgiving an official state holiday?
Massachusetts
New York
Throughout the 1700s, most colonies celebrated informal and unofficial Thanksgiving feasts, but nothing was legal until New York officially adopted an annual Thanksgiving holiday in 1817. This inspired many other Northern states to follow suit, but the South did not really know of the holiday for many years to come.
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Which President made Thanksgiving an official national holiday?
McKinley
Truman
Roosevelt
Lincoln
The idea of a national Thanksgiving had been around for a long time, but it didn't become a reality until 1863. Feeling that a day of giving thanks would provide unity and a boost of morale to the besieged Union in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln declared that a national Thanksgiving Day was to be held every November.
What is the unofficial meat of Thanksgiving?
Turkey
Despite not being a part of the first Thanksgiving, turkey has become synonymous with the holiday. According to the National Turkey Federation (yes, that's a real thing), nearly 90 percent of Americans eat the bird on Thanksgiving. Presumably, the remaining 10 percent​ eat Tofurkey or another meat-free alternative.
Goose
Tofu
Beef
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Which department store sponsors a parade every year on Thanksgiving?
Belk
Walmart
Sears
Macy's
It's difficult to imagine Thanksgiving morning without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but there was no such thing until 1924. While being the most famous, Macy's is not the only, or even the oldest, Thanksgiving parade. It is tied for second-oldest with Detroit's America's Thanksgiving Parade, and both were started four years after Philadelphia's 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade.
What presidential action is bestowed upon a turkey every Thanksgiving?
An executive order
A pardon
The annual presentation of a turkey to the President began during the Truman administration, but no turkeys were officially pardoned until the Reagan era, as a joke to deflect questions about the pardon of Oliver North. The pardoned turkey is allowed to live to a ripe old age on a farm in Virginia.
An execution sentence
A blessing
Which country is said to have had the real first Thanksgiving feast between Europeans and Native Americans?
France
Italy
Spain
The English may not have been the first to have Thanksgiving. It was never officially called "Thanksgiving," but records indicate that Spanish explorers sailing under the command of Pedro Menéndez de Avilé shared a celebratory meal with the local Timucua tribe as a way to celebrate their safe arrival in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. This is documented to have happened in 1565, more than half a century before Plymouth.
Sweden
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A feast to celebrate the harvest is not a modern occasion. Which ancient culture had similar feasts?
Ancient Greeks
Romans
Jews
All of the above
The English (and Spanish) were likely inspired to host a harvest feast by tales of ancient societies. The ancient Greeks held an annual three-day festival to honor Demeter, the goddess of corn and grains. The Romans had a similar tradition to honor Ceres, the goddess of corn. Ancient (and modern) Jews celebrate a harvest festival on the holiday of Sukkot.
What is the name of the fruit-filled horn often depicted?
Cornuhopia
Cornutopia
Cornusopia
Cornucopia
One of the most recognizable Thanksgiving decorations is the cornucopia, a horn-shaped basket filled with fruits and vegetables. The word "cornucopia" comes from the Latin "cornu copiae," which translates to "horn of plenty."
In response to the treatment of Native Americans throughout history, a protest movement has led to the creation of what day?
Day of Mourning
It's no secret that relations between Native Americans and settlers have gone steeply downhill since the first Thanksgiving. In 1970, a protest gathered on Thanksgiving at Coles Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock.
Day of Anger
Day of Tears
The Airing of Grievances
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What is the name of the bone that is traditionally snapped after dinner?
Hope bone
Wish bone
It's become a tradition for the wishbone, a bone attached to the turkey's breastbone, to be snapped after dinner (once it has had a chance to dry out and become brittle). Families often allow the youngest two members in attendance to hold the wishbone, make a wish, and pull until the bone snaps. Whoever is left holding the largest chunk of the bone is said to have their wish granted.
Luck bone
Giving bone
Every year, TV station TNT plays a marathon of which movie for 24 hours straight?
A Christmas Carol
It's Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown
A Christmas Story
In 1997, TNT decided to air "24 Hours of A Christmas Story," a marathon of twelve consecutive showings of "A Christmas Story." In recent years, the marathon has spread to TNT's sister station TBS, with the stations staggering broadcast times.
Spiderman
When does Canada celebrate Thanksgiving?
The first Wednesday in September
The second Monday in October
Thanksgiving has been celebrated in Canada since 1879, but had no set date and often popped up in other seasons. In 1957, The Governor General of Canada issued a proclamation that Thanksgiving was to be celebrated the second Monday in October.
The fourth Thursday in November
The third Wednesday in December
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What vegetable is the star of a soup-based casserole dish?
Peas
Carrots
Green beans
One of the most beloved Thanksgiving side dishes, green bean casserole consists of green beans, fried onions, and cream of mushroom soup. The recipe was created by Campbell's in 1955 as a way to boost sales of cream of mushroom soup. The company now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup a year, most of it around Thanksgiving.
Eggplant
What is the name of the day after Thanksgiving?
Ruby Tuesday
Cyber Friday
Green Friday
Black Friday
Some people are unclear about why the day after Thanksgiving, considered to be "the biggest shopping day of the year," is called Black Friday instead of Green Friday, to reflect the greenbacks rolling in. The term dates back to the 1960s when shop ledgers were filled out by hand. Losses were recorded in red ink and profits were recorded in black ink.
Thanksgiving is responsible for the creation of what modern convenience?
TV Dinners
Believe it or not, TV dinners have Thanksgiving, and an error in estimation, to thank for their existence. In 1953, Swanson overestimated how many turkeys they would sell that year, and ended up with an extra 26 tons of turkey meat! Someone came up with the idea to slice up the turkeys, add some trimmings and side dishes, freeze the meal, and sell it.
Microwaves
Uber
Pre-made pies
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What year did the first Thanksgiving take place?
1492
1556
1621
Despite making an alliance and celebrating in 1621, Massasoit did not fully trust the Pilgrims until two years later. In 1623, he fell gravely ill and was nursed back to health by colonial leader Edward Winslow. Winslow later said that Massasoit said, "the English are my friends and love me... whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me."
1863
Which state produces the most turkeys annually?
Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes isn't just good for lakes. Minnesota has the most turkey farms in the nation and produces more turkeys per year than any other state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the state of Minnesota raised close to 46 million turkeys in 2015.
South Carolina
Delaware
Iowa
What can wild turkeys do that domesticated turkeys cannot?
Fly
Not all turkeys are raised on farms. The eastern half of the United States is home to several species of wild turkey, and unlike domesticated turkeys, wild turkeys can fly. They can only travel short distances, but they can reach up to 55 mph!
Run
Gobble
Squat
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What Thanksgiving dish has the most varieties (and is the most contested on how to make properly)?
Pumpkin pie
Cranberry sauce
Stuffing
Stuffing is a Thanksgiving staple but varies from region to region. In the South, it is often made from cornbread, as opposed to the white bread base found in other parts of the country. Other ingredients might be added to the stuffing, depending on where the chef originates. These include oysters, apples, chestnuts, raisins, celery and turkey giblets.
Sweet potato casserole
Which founding father was not in favor of Thanksgiving?
Washington
Franklin
Jefferson
Despite Washington decreeing unofficial Thanksgiving days, not all founding fathers were on board with making it an official holiday. Jefferson called the concept of an official Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard.â€
Hamilton
Besides retail, what is the busiest industry on Black Friday?
Restaurants
Cinemas
Lawyers
Plumbers
Retail isn't the only industry to have its busiest day on Black Friday. Indelicate as it may be to discuss, plumbers are the next busiest on Black Friday, or as they call it "Brown Friday." Between kitchen sinks, garbage disposals, and toilets, the average plumber sees a 50 percent spike in business the day after Thanksgiving.
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What is the busiest night for bars?
Thanksgiving Eve
Thanksgiving Eve is not just the busiest drinking night of the Thanksgiving season, it's the busiest drinking night of the entire year. Bars are even busier than St. Patrick's Day and New Year's Eve.
Thanksgiving
Black Friday
the following Saturday
What is the busiest travel day of the season?
Thanksgiving Eve
Thanksgiving
Counterintuitive though it may be, the majority of travel actually takes place on Thanksgiving Day itself. Ninety percent of Thanksgiving travel is done by car, while air, train, and bus combined make up the other 10 percent.
Black Friday
the following Saturday
You Got:
/35
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