Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers

From the first feast in 1621 to parades, football, and turkey comas, Thanksgiving is filled with rich history, quirky traditions, and pop culture moments. Whether you’re looking to entertain guests before dinner or stump the family with some fun facts, this Thanksgiving trivia quiz has something for everyone.
Answers are provided below, so gather around and see who knows the most about this beloved holiday!

Here is a complete Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers page with 50 themed questions, perfect for classrooms, family dinners, trivia nights, or blog content.
Answers are provided below.

🦃 Thanksgiving Trivia Questions

History of Thanksgiving

  1. In what year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
  2. Which Native American tribe celebrated with the Pilgrims?
  3. What was the name of the ship the Pilgrims sailed on?
  4. Which U.S. President declared Thanksgiving a national holiday?
  5. In what year did Thanksgiving become an official U.S. holiday?
  6. Where did the first Thanksgiving take place?
  7. How long did the first Thanksgiving feast last?
  8. What famous document did the Pilgrims sign before disembarking?
  9. Who was the governor of Plymouth at the time of the first Thanksgiving?
  10. What day of the week is Thanksgiving celebrated in the U.S.?

Thanksgiving Traditions

  1. What is the traditional main course of a Thanksgiving dinner?
  2. What red sauce is a staple on the Thanksgiving table?
  3. What Friday comes after Thanksgiving?
  4. What large parade is held every Thanksgiving in New York City?
  5. Which department store sponsors that parade?
  6. What NFL team has played on Thanksgiving every year since 1934?
  7. What time of day is Thanksgiving dinner traditionally served?
  8. What U.S. President started the tradition of “pardoning” a turkey?
  9. What side dish is made from cubed bread and herbs?
  10. What is another name for stuffing?

Food & Cooking Trivia

  1. What pie is most commonly associated with Thanksgiving?
  2. What vegetable is sometimes called “yam” but is actually a sweet potato?
  3. What is the average weight of a Thanksgiving turkey?
  4. What bird did Benjamin Franklin suggest as the national bird instead of the bald eagle?
  5. What utensil is traditionally used to carve the turkey?
  6. What happens when two people pull on the wishbone?
  7. What percentage of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
  8. What is the name for the leftover sandwich made from Thanksgiving food?
  9. What is the term for preparing food ahead of time to cook on Thanksgiving day?
  10. What do you call it when you cook a turkey in hot oil?

Fun & Weird Facts

  1. Which U.S. state raises the most turkeys?
  2. What country also celebrates a form of Thanksgiving in October?
  3. What balloon character has appeared the most in the Macy’s parade?
  4. What U.S. President moved Thanksgiving one week earlier to boost holiday shopping?
  5. What animated TV family is known for their Thanksgiving episodes?
  6. How many calories does the average American consume on Thanksgiving?
  7. What was missing from the first Thanksgiving meal that’s common today?
  8. What meat did the Wampanoag tribe bring to the first Thanksgiving?
  9. How many turkeys are cooked in the U.S. on Thanksgiving each year (estimate)?
  10. What sport is most associated with Thanksgiving Day?

Pop Culture & Entertainment

  1. In the show Friends, who got a turkey stuck on their head?
  2. What Peanuts character hosts a Thanksgiving special?
  3. What 1987 comedy movie features a chaotic trip home for Thanksgiving?
  4. In the movie Free Birds, what do the turkeys try to do?
  5. What Disney+ show released a Thanksgiving-themed episode in 2021?
  6. Which song by Adam Sandler is a humorous take on Thanksgiving?
  7. What animated show features a Thanksgiving song called “Gravy Boat”?
  8. What classic children’s book involves a turkey named “Turkey Trouble”?
  9. What is the name of the turkey in the Macy’s parade mascot family?
  10. What 2023 Netflix movie featured a Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong?

✅ Thanksgiving Trivia Answers

History of Thanksgiving – Answers:

  1. 1621
  2. Wampanoag
  3. The Mayflower
  4. Abraham Lincoln
  5. 1863
  6. Plymouth, Massachusetts
  7. 3 days
  8. The Mayflower Compact
  9. William Bradford
  10. Thursday

Thanksgiving Traditions – Answers:

  1. Turkey
  2. Cranberry sauce
  3. Black Friday
  4. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
  5. Macy’s
  6. Detroit Lions
  7. Afternoon or early evening
  8. George H.W. Bush
  9. Stuffing or dressing
  10. Dressing

Food & Cooking Trivia – Answers:

  1. Pumpkin pie
  2. Sweet potato
  3. 15 pounds
  4. Turkey
  5. Carving knife
  6. The one who gets the bigger half makes a wish
  7. Around 88–90%
  8. Thanksgiving leftover sandwich
  9. Meal prep
  10. Deep-frying

Fun & Weird Facts – Answers:

  1. Minnesota
  2. Canada
  3. Snoopy
  4. Franklin D. Roosevelt
  5. The Simpsons
  6. 3,000–4,500 calories
  7. Mashed potatoes and pie
  8. Venison
  9. About 45–50 million
  10. Football

Pop Culture & Entertainment – Answers:

  1. Joey
  2. Charlie Brown
  3. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
  4. Go back in time and remove turkey from Thanksgiving
  5. Hawkeye (Marvel)
  6. “The Thanksgiving Song”
  7. Bob’s Burgers
  8. Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
  9. Tom Turkey
  10. The Thanksgiving Text (fictional example—insert correct title if known)

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