Amazing Thanksgiving Facts That Will Surprise You

Thanksgiving originated from a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 16

2. The first Thanksgiving in America lasted for three days.

The Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower to find religious freedom.

The famous Thanksgiving parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, has been held annually since 19

5. The first Thanksgiving didn’t actually include turkey; instead, it was likely focused on fish, deer, and various vegetables.

The reason Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November is due to a decree by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

The average American consumes about 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States.

Thanksgiving is often referred to as Turkey Day due to the traditional turkey dinner.

The heaviest turkey on record weighed a whopping 86 pounds.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States and Canada.

Approximately 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving each year.

The tradition of pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey began with President Harry S. Truman in 1947.

Pumpkin pie is a staple Thanksgiving dessert, with over 50 million pies consumed each year.

Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season, leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Cranberries are an essential part of Thanksgiving, with about 20% of cranberries consumed during the holiday season.

Amazing Thanksgiving Facts That Will Surprise You part 2

The average Thanksgiving meal takes six hours to prepare.

The wishbone tradition, where two people break a turkey’s wishbone, dates back to the Etruscan civilization in ancient Rome.

The Detroit Lions have played a football game on Thanksgiving Day every year since 19

Wild turkeys can run at speeds of up to 20-25 miles per hour.

Thanksgiving is a day for expressing gratitude and appreciation for the blessings in our lives.

The Thanksgiving holiday celebrates the survival and cooperation between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.

The cornucopia or horn of plenty is a popular Thanksgiving symbol, representing abundance and nourishment.

Thanksgiving is the second most popular holiday for traveling in the United States, after Christmas.

Turkey is the most common main dish for Thanksgiving dinner, followed by ham and roast beef.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October.

The Friday before Thanksgiving is known as Blackout Wednesday, one of the busiest nights for bars and alcohol sales in the United States.

Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird of the United States, but the bald eagle was ultimately chosen.

The town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the Pilgrims settled, is known as America’s Hometown.

Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings and reconnecting with loved ones.

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving to give thanks for a successful harvest.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a beloved tradition, featuring giant balloons and famous celebrities.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the date of Thanksgiving once, moving it up a week to boost the economy during the Great Depression.

The first Thanksgiving football game was played between Yale and Princeton in 1876.

The busiest airports during Thanksgiving weekend are typically Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and O’Hare International Airport.

Turkey was not the main course at the first Thanksgiving; it is believed that venison was more likely served.

The average American will eat around three slices of pie on Thanksgiving Day.

The annual Turkey Trot is a popular tradition on Thanksgiving morning, with people participating in fun runs and races.

Many families have their own unique Thanksgiving traditions, such as playing board games or watching football.

Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on what we’re grateful for and expressing appreciation to others.

The day after Thanksgiving is also known as National Leftovers Day due to the abundance of leftover food.

The song Jingle Bells was originally written as a Thanksgiving song.

Native Americans have been celebrating harvest festivals long before the Pilgrims arrived in America.

The first Thanksgiving likely included other meats such as duck, geese, and swan.

Thanksgiving is not only celebrated in the United States and Canada; other countries, such as Liberia and Grenada, also have Thanksgiving celebrations.