Do you know your Thanksgiving traditions? – answers and explanations
Here are the answers to all 15 questions in the Do you know your Thanksgiving traditions? quiz, each with a short explanation. Test your knowledge of America's favorite feast, from the Pilgrims to pumpkin pie. Haven't played yet? Take the quiz first and compare your score.
Play the quiz · 15 questions1. In 1863, which president proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation on October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, calling for a national day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Writer Sarah Josepha Hale had campaigned for years for a single national holiday.
2. Besides Dallas, which NFL team traditionally hosts a Thanksgiving Day game?
Answer: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1934. The Dallas Cowboys have hosted one since 1966, with only two exceptions.
3. Classic green bean casserole is topped with which crunchy ingredient?
Answer: Crispy fried onions
Classic green bean casserole is topped with French fried onions. Dorcas Reilly created the recipe for Campbell's in 1955, combining green beans, cream of mushroom soup and the fried onions.
4. Which Peanuts character has appeared as a Macy's parade balloon the most times?
Answer: Snoopy
Snoopy holds the record for the most appearances as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon and has had more balloon designs than any other character. Versions include Aviator Snoopy in 1968 and Astronaut Snoopy in 1969.
5. The Mayflower Pilgrims settled at Plymouth in which present-day US state?
Answer: Massachusetts
The Mayflower Pilgrims founded Plymouth Colony in what is now Massachusetts. Their 1621 harvest gathering there is often called the first Thanksgiving.
6. Which Native American people shared the 1621 harvest feast with the Pilgrims?
Answer: Wampanoag
The Wampanoag, led by sachem Massasoit, joined the Plymouth colonists for the 1621 harvest celebration. About 90 Wampanoag men attended, and they brought five deer to the feast.
7. What is the fleshy flap that hangs over a male turkey's beak called?
Answer: Snood
The snood is the fleshy flap that hangs over a turkey's beak. It is longest on males, called toms, and it can swell and lengthen during courtship displays.
8. Which sweetener is a key ingredient in classic American pecan pie?
Answer: Corn syrup
Classic American pecan pie uses corn syrup for its gooey filling. In the 20th century, the Karo corn syrup brand helped popularize the recipe by promoting it on its labels.
9. Which president made the White House turkey pardon an official yearly event?
Answer: George H.W. Bush
In 1989, George H.W. Bush made the turkey pardon an official yearly White House ceremony. Earlier presidents had sometimes spared turkeys, and Ronald Reagan joked about a pardon in 1987.
10. Sweet potato casserole is classically topped with which sweet ingredient?
Answer: Marshmallows
Sweet potato casserole is classically topped with marshmallows that brown in the oven. The pairing became popular in the early 20th century, when marshmallow makers promoted recipes that used their product.
11. Which U.S. president moved Thanksgiving up a week, leading to 'Franksgiving'?
Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1939 Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up one week to give retailers a longer Christmas shopping season, and critics called it 'Franksgiving.' In 1941 Congress fixed the holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
12. Which character traditionally arrives at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade?
Answer: Santa Claus
Santa Claus traditionally closes the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. His arrival marks the symbolic start of the Christmas holiday season.
13. Cranberries are commonly harvested by flooding which kind of growing area?
Answer: Bogs
Cranberries grow in bogs. In a wet harvest the bogs are flooded and the berries are knocked loose, and because they have small air pockets inside, they float to the surface and are gathered up.
14. Post-dinner sleepiness is often blamed on which amino acid in turkey?
Answer: Tryptophan
Tryptophan in turkey often gets the blame for sleepiness after Thanksgiving dinner. In fact turkey has no more tryptophan than many other meats, and a large, carb-heavy meal is the more likely cause.
15. The Mayflower made its final 1620 departure from which English port?
Answer: Plymouth
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England, for the last time in September 1620. It had first sailed from Southampton with the Speedwell, but the Speedwell's leaks forced the ships to turn back.