15 Thanksgiving Fun Facts That Will Totally Blow Your Mind

Thanksgiving or Turkey day has great significance world over. It symbolizes peace and joyful offerings for a year of bountiful harvest and a time to spend with the entire family in gratitude for all the blessings received. It also officially marks the beginning of the holiday season. There are many theories as to when and how this day became so popular among the people. Let’s look into some of the interesting facts before we celebrate with 46 million turkeys at the table!

1. Origin

The first ever thanksgiving was held between the Puritans and the Wampanoag Indians in the autumn of 1921. It was a three day feast that gathered the community for the first time after a bountiful harvest. There was definitely no turkey on the table, but other delicacies made out of the meat of deer, ducks, and geese. Seafood was also present dishes made out of eel, oyster, lobster, and fish. But no mashed potatoes or cranberries were served. It was actually meant for a three day fasting by the Puritans but turned into a feast only because the local Wampanoag Indians joined them for a good harvest.

2. Mother of Turkey

Sarah J. Hale, the celebrated 19th-century writer, is acclaimed as the Mother of Thanksgiving because she was the one who wrote a message to the then President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to consider this day as a National Holiday. That is how this day became an important social function on the fourth Thursday of every November over the years.

3. The day before and after

Thanksgiving has gained so much popularity over the decades that the day before it - that is the Wednesday is officially called Drinskgiving or Black Wednesday. On this day the pubs and bars are full, and uber prices surge due to the partygoers thronging the joints all night for drinks. The day after is Black Friday – a busy day for shoppers and also plumbers. Now you would ask why the plumbers? Because all the drains are clogged with feast food.

4. A Turkey Hotline

Believe it or not, but there is a turkey hotline. Every year Butterball the renowned turkey and poultry brand has been keeping a Turkey Talk-line open from November to December since 1981. They receive over a million calls from across the U.S. and Canada regarding turkey!

5. Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells was originally known as One Horse Open Sleigh and was supposed to be the Thanksgiving anthem. But it became so popular during Christmas that James Pierpont’s 1857 hit number had to be changed to Jingle Bells for the masses.

6. Turkey for President

Turkey, the iconic bird, was a favorite with one of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin who wanted the humble bird to be the symbol of national patriotism. Every year there is a dignified occasion held at the White House where the President pardons a turkey from its cruel fate.

7. Macy’s Parade

The original parade was held to kickstart the holiday season and named Macy's Christmas Parade but changed over the years to Thanksgiving. The first parade had live animals from the Central Park Zoo, and 400 employees are walking down the Covenant Avenue to 145th Street in New York.

8. Turkey locations

Thanksgiving has taken real estate and locations by storm too, Turkey, Texas: Turkey, L.A: and Turkey, N.C. are all named after the bird. Nine townships around the country are named after this humble creature with three in Kansas.

9. Turkey in Space

Turkey must have been the only gourmet meal eaten in space, especially for a historic moment. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first meal after landing on the moon was roasted turkey in foil bags.

10. Ancient History

Even before the Pilgrims starting this tradition, the natives of Hawai had been celebrating the most extended Thanksgiving in the world known as Makahiki. It lasted for four months, from November through February and people just ate and danced without performing any work obligations or war.

11. Busiest Travel day

Millions of Americans travel on Thanksgiving for the long weekend to spend time with their families every year. It is meant to be a busy day for airports and transport channels throughout the country this time of the year.

12. World over celebrations

Other countries celebrating this festival include Canada, Germany, Grenada, Korea, and Norwolk Island. Alcatraz Island has a different kind of celebration known as the Un-thanksgiving day for commemorating the survival of Native Americans from the arriving European settlers.

13. Pricey Crans

Cranberries have become a staple for Thanksgiving dinners every year and Americans consume 5,062,500 gallons of jellied cranberry sauce each year. Store bought cranberry sauce are favorite than the homemade versions.

14. Food Galore

Approximately 8 billion is spent on the food each year for this festival, more than 40 million bean casseroles are sold. 2.4 million potatoes, and more than a million pumpkins. The state of California consumes the largest amount of turkeys.

15. By the Law

By the 1930s the wild turkey population had dwindled due to continuous poaching and hunting. But renewed and reinforced hunting laws made sealed their restoration and conservation.