AG AIGAMELIB 59 playable now, 61 experiments Play a case
Menu

Seven days of questions and answers

Thanksgiving Trivia Answers Archive

Review earlier daily rounds, reveal the correct answer, and use the short explanation to learn the fact behind each question. Page 5 of 12 covers seven completed UTC days.

Play today's quiz

Daily round

  1. What is the common name for the red berry traditionally served as a sauce or relish alongside Thanksgiving turkey?

    Answer: Cranberry

    Cranberries are the traditional berry served at Thanksgiving, prepared as a sauce, relish, or jelly to complement the savory flavors of turkey and other holiday dishes.

  2. Which squash variety, with its bell-like shape and sweet orange flesh, is especially popular for Thanksgiving soups and purées?

    Answer: Butternut squash

    Butternut squash has a smooth, dense, and sweet flesh that purées easily, making it a favorite for Thanksgiving soups, side dishes, and even pie fillings where a smooth, creamy texture is desired.

  3. Approximately how many spectators line the route of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City each year?

    Answer: 1 to 2 million

    An estimated 1 to 2 million people attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in person along its 2.5-mile route through Manhattan annually.

  4. The 1621 harvest gathering at Plymouth Colony is commonly described in historical accounts as lasting how many days?

    Answer: Three days

    Primary sources, including a letter by Edward Winslow, indicate that the 1621 harvest celebration at Plymouth lasted for three days and involved both the colonists and Wampanoag guests.

  5. The first official national Thanksgiving holiday in Canada was proclaimed in which year?

    Answer: 1879

    Canada's first official national Thanksgiving was proclaimed on November 6, 1879, though the date has shifted several times before settling on the second Monday of October in 1957.

Daily round

  1. How much whole turkey per person is commonly recommended when planning a Thanksgiving meal?

    Answer: One and a half pounds per person

    The general guideline is to plan for one to one and a half pounds of whole turkey per person, which accounts for bone weight and provides reasonable portions plus leftovers.

  2. Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving proclamation was primarily drafted by which member of his cabinet?

    Answer: William Seward

    Secretary of State William H. Seward is generally credited with drafting the text of Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving proclamation, which was then signed by the president.

  3. The modern tradition of a U.S. president formally granting an annual turkey pardon became an established White House custom during which presidency?

    Answer: George H. W. Bush

    While earlier presidents occasionally spared turkeys, George H. W. Bush became the first to formally grant an official annual presidential turkey pardon in 1989.

  4. On which day of the week does Canadian Thanksgiving consistently fall each year?

    Answer: Second Monday of October

    Since 1957, Canadian Thanksgiving has been observed on the second Monday of October, providing a long weekend for harvest-season observances.

  5. What is the primary difference between a sweet potato and a true yam?

    Answer: Sweet potatoes are a root in the morning glory family while yams belong to the Dioscorea family

    Despite the interchangeable use of the names in American grocery stores, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and true yams (Dioscorea species) are entirely different plants from separate botanical families.

Daily round

  1. Cranberries are one of the few major commercial fruits native to which continent?

    Answer: North America

    The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is native to North America and was used by Indigenous peoples long before European settlers incorporated it into harvest feasts.

  2. In the United States, Thanksgiving has been recognized as a federal legal public holiday since which decade?

    Answer: 1940s

    Thanksgiving became an official federal legal public holiday when Congress codified it into law in 1941 as part of the resolution that fixed its date to the fourth Thursday of November.

  3. Which of these vegetables belongs to the same botanical family as pumpkins and butternut squash?

    Answer: Zucchini

    Pumpkins, butternut squash, and zucchini are all members of the Cucurbitaceae family (the gourd family), while sweet potatoes, turnips, and parsnips belong to entirely different plant families.

  4. The 1621 Plymouth harvest feast is believed to have occurred during which part of the calendar year?

    Answer: Early autumn

    The harvest celebration at Plymouth in 1621 most likely took place in September or early October, aligning with the completion of the New England harvest season.

  5. Which NFL team has played a game on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934, making it the longest continuous Thanksgiving football tradition?

    Answer: Detroit Lions

    The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1934, when team owner George A. Richards arranged the first matchup as a promotional event.

Daily round

  1. Which crop is typically associated with harvest festivals in the American South, where Thanksgiving celebrations may include dishes like pecan pie and sweet potato casserole?

    Answer: Pecans

    Pecans are a signature crop of the American South and a key ingredient in many Southern Thanksgiving dishes, including the classic pecan pie made with the region's abundant harvest.

  2. Which of these Thanksgiving side dishes is most associated with the Midwestern United States?

    Answer: Green bean casserole

    Green bean casserole became a widespread American staple especially in the Midwest, where Campbell's cream of mushroom soup was a pantry staple and the dish offered a convenient, economical way to feed a crowd.

  3. Which Canadian city hosts a major annual November parade that is closely associated with the Thanksgiving and holiday season?

    Answer: Toronto

    Toronto hosts the annual Santa Claus Parade in November, closely tied to the Thanksgiving weekend, and it is one of the largest parades in North America.

  4. What is the function of a roasting rack when cooking a turkey in the oven?

    Answer: It elevates the turkey so hot air circulates underneath and the bottom does not boil in drippings

    A roasting rack lifts the turkey above the bottom of the pan, allowing ambient oven heat to reach the entire bird and preventing the underside from sitting in and steaming in its own juices, which promotes more even browning.

  5. What was the popular nickname given to the rescheduled Thanksgiving holiday of 1939?

    Answer: Franksgiving

    Critics of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1939 Thanksgiving date change mockingly dubbed it "Franksgiving," blending the president's first name with the holiday.

Daily round

  1. Which type of apple is most commonly recommended for baking in Thanksgiving pies due to its ability to hold its shape?

    Answer: Granny Smith

    Granny Smith apples are favored for pies because their firm flesh and tart flavor hold up well during baking, maintaining distinct pieces rather than turning into applesauce, and their acidity balances the sweetness of pie filling.

  2. Which group of early settlers is credited with bringing American-style Thanksgiving harvest customs to Canada?

    Answer: United Empire Loyalists

    United Empire Loyalists who emigrated from the United States during and after the American Revolution carried Thanksgiving customs, including harvest festival traditions, into Canada.

  3. From 1921 to 1931, the Canadian holiday Armistice Day shared its observance with Thanksgiving before being separated into which two distinct holidays?

    Answer: Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day

    Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were observed together on November 11 from 1921 until 1931, when they were separated into Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving on different dates.

  4. Before Lincoln's 1863 proclamation, how were national days of thanksgiving typically established in the United States?

    Answer: By individual presidential proclamations for specific occasions

    Prior to 1863, presidents issued ad hoc Thanksgiving proclamations for particular events such as military victories or abundant harvests, rather than establishing a recurring annual observance.

  5. Which American state has historically celebrated Thanksgiving with regional dishes such as kalua turkey, poke, and malasadas reflecting its multicultural heritage?

    Answer: Hawaii

    Hawaii's Thanksgiving tables often reflect its diverse cultural influences with dishes like kalua turkey prepared in an imu, poke, malasadas, and other local specialties.

Daily round

  1. What type of fat is most traditionally used to baste a roasting turkey?

    Answer: Melted butter spooned over the skin periodically

    Melted butter is the classic basting fat for roasting turkey, as its milk solids promote browning and its fat content helps the skin crisp while adding a rich flavor that complements the poultry.

  2. Which ingredient is traditionally used as the primary thickening agent in pan gravy?

    Answer: Roux made from fat and flour

    Classic pan gravy begins with a roux—a mixture of equal parts fat (typically drippings) and flour cooked together—which is then whisked with pan juices and stock to create a smooth, thickened sauce.

  3. Which country celebrates Homowo, a traditional harvest festival of thanksgiving that involves sprinkling kpokpoi to honor ancestors and mark the end of a famine?

    Answer: Ghana

    Homowo is a harvest festival celebrated by the Ga people of Ghana's Greater Accra region, commemorating a historical famine and giving thanks through traditional food offerings and ceremonies.

  4. Which U.S. president first issued a nationwide Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, calling for a day of gratitude and prayer?

    Answer: George Washington

    George Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as a day of national thanksgiving to acknowledge the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the establishment of the new federal government.

  5. The wild turkey, native to North America, is one of two species of turkey in the world. What is the other species?

    Answer: Ocellated turkey

    The Ocellated turkey is the second species of turkey, found primarily in the Yucatán Peninsula region of Mexico and parts of Central America, known for its eye-catching iridescent feathers.

Daily round

  1. How long can refrigerated Thanksgiving leftovers typically be safely consumed before they should be discarded?

    Answer: 3 to 4 days

    Food safety guidelines recommend consuming refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days; after that, the risk of bacterial growth increases even under continuous refrigeration.

  2. Which ingredient gives traditional candied yams their characteristic toasted, golden topping?

    Answer: Miniature marshmallows browned under a broiler or in the oven

    The marshmallow-topped candied yam casserole—featuring a layer of miniature marshmallows browned under a broiler or in the oven—became a widely popular Thanksgiving dish in the United States during the twentieth century.

  3. During the 1939 Thanksgiving date controversy, approximately how many U.S. states chose to follow Roosevelt's revised earlier date?

    Answer: 23

    Only 23 of the 48 states adopted Roosevelt's earlier Thanksgiving date in 1939, while 23 kept the traditional last Thursday, creating a split that lasted through 1940.

  4. Which vegetable is in peak season during the North American autumn and is often served roasted or shredded at Thanksgiving?

    Answer: Brussels sprouts

    Brussels sprouts are a cool-weather crop that reaches peak flavor after the first autumn frost, making them a natural seasonal choice for Thanksgiving side dishes, especially when roasted or sautéed.

  5. The tradition of writing gratitude lists or keeping gratitude journals around Thanksgiving has been linked in psychological research to improvements in which area of well-being?

    Answer: Subjective happiness and life satisfaction

    Multiple psychology studies, including those by Robert Emmons, have found that regularly practicing gratitude, such as writing gratitude lists, is associated with increased subjective happiness and life satisfaction.