Thanksgiving Trivia for Kids — 60 Fun Questions

Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. It's a day for family, food, and giving thanks.

Turkey! Turkey is the traditional centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, which is why Thanksgiving is sometimes called 'Turkey Day.'

The Pilgrims were a group of people who sailed from England to America in 1620. They were looking for a place where they could practice their religion freely.

The Mayflower! The Mayflower set sail from England in September 1620 and arrived in America after a 66-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Wampanoag people. They taught the Pilgrims how to grow food and survive in their new home, and joined them for the first Thanksgiving feast.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! It's one of the biggest parades in the world, with giant balloons, floats, and performances.

Pumpkin! Pumpkin pie is one of the most popular Thanksgiving desserts. It's made from cooked pumpkin with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Cranberries! Cranberry sauce is made by cooking cranberries with sugar. It's tangy, sweet, and a classic Thanksgiving side dish.

Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony, which is now a real place you can visit in Massachusetts.

1621! The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three whole days and included both Pilgrims and Wampanoag people.

Yes — but only boy turkeys! Male turkeys (called toms or gobblers) make the famous gobbling sound. Female turkeys (called hens) make softer clucking sounds.

A poult! Baby turkeys are called poults. They hatch from eggs and can walk around almost right away.

A tom or a gobbler. Adult male turkeys are called toms. Young male turkeys are called jakes.

A hen. Female turkeys are called hens. Young female turkeys are called jennies.

Yes, they can! Wild turkeys can fly short distances, up to about 55 miles per hour. They often sleep in trees at night to stay safe from predators.

Brown, black, bronze, and iridescent green and red. Wild turkey feathers shimmer in sunlight with beautiful colors.

By gobbling, clucking, purring, and yelping. Turkeys have at least 30 different sounds they use to talk to each other!

The wattle! The wattle hangs from the turkey's throat and can change color when the turkey is excited or upset.

The snood! The snood is a long piece of fleshy skin that hangs over the beak. It gets bigger and redder when a male turkey is showing off.

About 25 miles per hour! Even though turkeys have wings, they often prefer to run when they're in a hurry.

Usually bread, herbs, celery, and onions. Stuffing (also called dressing) is a savory side dish and one of the most loved parts of the Thanksgiving meal.

Black Friday! Many stores open early and offer huge discounts on Black Friday, making it one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Football! NFL football games have been played on Thanksgiving since 1934. Many families watch the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys play every year.

They say what they're thankful for (grace or giving thanks). Many families go around the table sharing things they are grateful for before the meal.

Abraham Lincoln! In 1863, during the Civil War, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Cornmeal! Cornmeal can be made into cornbread, which is a popular Thanksgiving side dish in many families.

Russet or Yukon gold potatoes. Mashed potatoes are a crowd favorite at Thanksgiving, often topped with gravy!

Run in a race! Turkey Trot races happen on Thanksgiving morning in many cities. People run 5K or 10K races before eating their big meal.

A Thanksgiving celebration with friends! Friendsgiving is when friends get together to celebrate Thanksgiving, often as a potluck dinner.

Marshmallows! Sweet potato casserole topped with gooey marshmallows is a popular and sweet Thanksgiving side dish.

Three days! The 1621 harvest celebration was a three-day event with food, games, and activities shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

Massasoit. He was the chief of the Wampanoag and helped maintain peace between his people and the Pilgrims for many years.

Probably, but we're not sure! Historical accounts mention 'fowl,' which could have been duck, geese, or turkey. We know they definitely ate deer, fish, and corn.

Benjamin Franklin! Franklin wrote that the turkey was a 'respectable bird' and thought it was more suitable as a national symbol than the eagle.

Minnesota! Minnesota raises more turkeys than any other state in America — about 40-45 million turkeys every year.

Wisconsin! Wisconsin produces more than 60% of all the cranberries grown in the United States.

'People of the First Light' or 'People of the Dawn.' The Wampanoag people lived in what is now Massachusetts and Rhode Island for thousands of years before the Pilgrims arrived.

Tens of thousands! The first parade in 1924 was called the 'Macy's Christmas Parade' and included real animals from the Central Park Zoo.

3,699 pounds! The world record pumpkin pie was 20 feet across and was made in New Bremen, Ohio in 2010.

The National Turkey Pardon! Every year, the U.S. president officially 'pardons' two lucky turkeys so they don't end up on the Thanksgiving dinner table. The tradition became official in 1989.