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Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and delicious food. But it's also a great opportunity to engage and entertain your colleagues with fun trivia. Whether planning a Thanksgiving-themed office party or simply wanting to liven up your workplace celebration, these Thanksgiving trivia questions will surely spark some friendly competition and laughter.
So, gather your team, put your thinking caps on, and let's dive into the world of Thanksgiving trivia!
When is Thanksgiving celebrated and why?
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, it's celebrated on the second Monday of October.
Thanksgiving has its roots in cultural and religious traditions, and for many, it's a time to give thanks for the past year's blessings.
- Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving: The most well-known origin of Thanksgiving in the United States dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrims, early settlers from England, celebrated their first successful harvest in the New World.
After a harsh winter and with the help of Native Americans, the Pilgrims had a bountiful harvest and held a three-day feast to celebrate. This event, which took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is commonly regarded as the first Thanksgiving. - A national holiday: It wasn't until 1863, during the American Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to be held each November. Before this, Thanksgiving was celebrated on different dates in different states.
- Giving thanks: The essence of Thanksgiving is rooted in gratitude. Whether for a successful harvest, as in the early days, or for the blessings and fortunes of the past year, it's a time for reflection and appreciation. It's also a time to gather with family and friends, sharing in the tradition of a Thanksgiving meal.
- Canadian Thanksgiving: While the U.S. holiday often emphasizes the Pilgrims and their first feast, Canadian Thanksgiving has different historical roots.
It dates back to 1578 when the English navigator Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Nunavut, giving thanks for his fleet's safe arrival in North America. The themes, however, are similar, with both holidays focusing on gratitude, the harvest, and spending time with loved ones.
80 ThanksGiving trivia Questions with answers
1. In what year did the first Thanksgiving celebration occur in America?
Answer: 1621.
2. What is the name of the Native American tribe that shared the first Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims?
Answer: Wampanoag.
3. Who is credited with starting the tradition of Thanksgiving?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln.
4. Which president made Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln.
5. What is the main course of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Roast turkey.
6. What is the name of the document signed by the Pilgrims before they landed in America?
Answer: Mayflower Compact.
7. Which state produces the most turkeys for Thanksgiving?
Answer: Minnesota.
8. What is the name of the parade that takes place every Thanksgiving in New York City?
Answer: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
9. In what month is Canadian Thanksgiving celebrated?
Answer: October.
10. Who is the current host of the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation at the White House?
Answer: The President of the United States.
11. Which famous nursery rhyme mentions Thanksgiving?
Answer: Mary Had a Little Lamb.
12. What is the name of the dessert that is traditionally served with Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Pumpkin pie.
13. Who was the Native American leader that helped the Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Squanto.
14. What is the name of the ship that the Pilgrims sailed on to America?
Answer: Mayflower.
15. Who created the famous painting “The First Thanksgiving”?
Answer: Jean Leon Gerome Ferris.
16. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving football game played by the Detroit Lions every year?
Answer: The Thanksgiving Classic.
17. What is the name of the Indian princess that the Pilgrims befriended at the first Thanksgiving?
Answer: Massasoit's daughter, often referred to as "Princess Samoset."
18. What is the name of the annual Thanksgiving parade held in Chicago?
Answer: McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.
19. Which president made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November?
Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
20. According to tradition, which famous pilgrim wore a belt buckle on his hat?
Answer: St. Pilgrim.
21. Who created the famous balloon character “Snoopy” for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Answer: Charles M. Schulz.
22. What is the name of the president that granted the Thanksgiving holiday to Union soldiers during the Civil War?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln.
23. Which vegetable is traditionally served as a side dish on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Green beans.
24. Which popular food had its first commercial crop in the 1940s and is consumed largely on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Cranberries.
25. What is the name of the famous Indian leader who played a role in the first Thanksgiving feast?
Answer: Chief Massasoit.
26. Which president pardoned a turkey for the first time in 1989?
Answer: George H.W. Bush.
27. What is the name of the holiday celebrated in Canada that is similar to Thanksgiving in the United States?
Answer: Thanksgiving Day.
28. How many towns in the US are named Plymouth, which is the city where the first Thanksgiving was celebrated?
Answer: Four.
29. What is the name of the group of people who sailed to America on the Mayflower?
Answer: The Pilgrims.
30. What is the name of the organization that sends Thanksgiving care packages to soldiers overseas?
Answer: Operation Gratitude.
31. Which famous American poet wrote a poem about Thanksgiving?
Answer: Robert Frost.
32. What is the name of the musical about the first Thanksgiving written by Irving Berlin?
Answer: "Annie Get Your Gun."
33. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving song by Adam Sandler?
Answer: "The Thanksgiving Song."
34. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with mashed potatoes and corn?
Answer: Corn casserole.
35. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with sweet potatoes and marshmallows?
Answer: Sweet potato casserole.
36. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with green beans and fried onions?
Answer: Green bean casserole.
37. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with celery, onions, and bread?
Answer: Stuffing.
38. Which famous author wrote a story about a giant turkey named “Simon” for Thanksgiving?
Answer: Shel Silverstein.
39. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with cranberries?
Answer: Cranberry sauce.
40. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with stuffing and cooked inside a turkey?
Answer: Turkey stuffing.
41. Which famous comedian starred in the film “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” which takes place during Thanksgiving?
Answer: Steve Martin.
42. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with pumpkin and spices?
Answer: Pumpkin pie.
43. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with pecans and syrup?
Answer: Pecan pie.
44. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with mashed potatoes, cheese, and bacon?
Answer: Loaded mashed potatoes.
45. Who composed music for the first Thanksgiving Day parade in 1924?
Answer: Paul Lavalle.
46. What is the name of the Thanksgiving tradition where people run a race for charity?
Answer: Turkey Trot.
47. What is the name of the traditional family card game played on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Rummy.
48. What is the name of the British holiday that is similar to Thanksgiving?
Answer: Harvest Festival.
49. What is the name of the superhero who helps the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Answer: Spider-Man.
50. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving sandwich made with leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce?
Answer: Turkey sandwich.
51. What is the nickname for the day after Thanksgiving, which is known for its shopping deals?
Answer: Black Friday.
52. Which famous author wrote a story about a Thanksgiving Day football game?
Answer: John Grisham.
53. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving parade held in Philadelphia?
Answer: Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.
54. What is the name of the traditional bread served alongside Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Dinner rolls.
55. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with yams and marshmallows?
Answer: Candied yams.
56. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with carrots and raisins?
Answer: Carrot and raisin salad.
57. What is the name of the traditional Native American game that is played on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Stickball.
58. What is the name of the annual Thanksgiving food drive that takes place in New York City?
Answer: City Harvest.
59. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with creamed corn and crackers?
Answer: Corn casserole.
60. What city in the US is known for hosting a turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: Cincinnati, Ohio.
61. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with brussels sprouts and bacon?
Answer: Roasted brussels sprouts.
62. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with sausage and bread?
Answer: Sausage stuffing.
63. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with mashed potatoes and cheese?
Answer: Cheesy mashed potatoes.
64. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with sweet potatoes and brown sugar?
Answer: Brown sugar glazed sweet potatoes.
65. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with spinach and cream cheese?
Answer: Spinach dip.
66. Which famous comedian performs a stand-up routine every year on Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: Kevin James.
67. What is the name of the traditional Native American dance that is performed on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Powwow.
68. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with cornbread?
Answer: Cornbread stuffing.
69. What is the name of the traditional Swedish dish that is served on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Swedish meatballs.
70. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with acorn squash?
Answer: Stuffed acorn squash.
71. What is the name of the annual Thanksgiving parade held in Houston?
Answer: H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade.
72. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with collard greens and ham hocks?
Answer: Southern-style collard greens.
73. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with creamed onions and breadcrumbs?
Answer: Creamed onion casserole.
74. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with chestnuts and sausage?
Answer: Chestnut and sausage stuffing.
75. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving side dish made with creamed peas?
Answer: Creamed peas and pearl onions.
76. What is the name of the annual Thanksgiving parade held in Charlotte?
Answer: Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade.
77. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with carrots and ginger?
Answer: Ginger-glazed carrots.
78. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with butternut squash?
Answer: Butternut squash soup.
79. What is the name of the annual Thanksgiving food drive that takes place in Los Angeles?
Answer: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's Thanksgiving Food Drive.
80. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with cranberry and orange?
Answer: Cranberry orange relish.
81. What is the name of the famous Thanksgiving dish made with mashed potatoes and broccoli?
Answer: Broccoli mashed potatoes.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to come together and celebrate, and what better way to do that than by testing your knowledge with some Thanksgiving trivia questions? Whether you learned something new about the history of Thanksgiving or discovered a fun fact about traditional dishes, we hope these trivia questions were a hit at your workplace celebration.
Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy each other's company and create a joyful and inclusive atmosphere.
Happy Thanksgiving and may your workplace celebrations be filled with laughter and memories!
