Thanksgiving

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Did you know? Jingle Bells was originally written as a Thanksgiving song titled One Horse Open Sleigh, but it became so popular that it was eventually sung at Christmas. elaborate

Fact 1 of 30

30 facts about Thanksgiving

1
During the 1930s, the official date of Thanksgiving was briefly changed to the third Thursday of November to help boost the economy by extending the Christmas shopping season, leading some frustrated citizens to call the holiday Franksgiving.
2
Male turkeys, or toms, can actually change the color of the skin on their heads and necks between red, white, and blue depending on their emotional state or hormone levels.
3
In 1863, Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of the nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb, successfully campaigned for Thanksgiving to become a national holiday after writing letters to President Abraham Lincoln for 17 years.
4
Because turkeys can see movement from up to 100 yards away, they are notoriously difficult to sneak up on in the wild.
5
A turkey has a heart rate that can be measured, and it is known to beat significantly faster when the bird is frightened or agitated.
6
Many assume the Pilgrims and Native Americans feasted on turkey, but it is more likely that their meal focused on venison, waterfowl, and local seafood like eels and shellfish.
7
The very first Thanksgiving dinner was likely closer to a three-day harvest festival celebration than the single meal we recognize today.
8
Wild turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour and fly at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
9
Many people believe the Pilgrims wore buckle hats and shoes, but there is no historical evidence that they ever wore buckles on their clothing.
10
The turkey's skin is surprisingly sensitive and can be used to tell if the bird is feeling threatened or excited.
11
Many people incorrectly believe that the holiday was always held on the fourth Thursday of November, but the date shifted several times throughout American history.
12
The wishbone tradition dates back to the ancient Etruscans, who believed birds were oracles that could predict the future.
13
The Macy's Parade balloons were once filled with air and held by poles, but they switched to helium in 1928 so they could be released into the sky at the end of the parade.
14
The state of Minnesota produces more turkeys than any other state in the U.S.
15
It is a common misconception that the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians sat down to a massive sit-down dinner with forks; they likely ate with knives, spoons, and their fingers.
16
Turkeys have an excellent sense of hearing, but they have no external ears; they have small holes on the sides of their heads instead.
17
There is a specific professional organization called the National Turkey Federation that selects the birds for the annual White House presentation.
18
The tradition of a presidential turkey pardon only became an official annual event starting in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush.
19
The heaviest turkey ever recorded weighed 86 pounds, which is roughly the size of a very large dog.
20
People often think the Pilgrims wore all black with large buckles on their hats, but they actually wore colorful clothing including green, blue, and red fabrics.
21
Some turkeys have a flap of skin called a snood that hangs over their beak, and it changes color depending on their mood.
22
Jingle Bells was originally written as a Thanksgiving song titled One Horse Open Sleigh, but it became so popular that it was eventually sung at Christmas.
23
Green bean casserole was invented in 1955 by an employee at the Campbell Soup Company who wanted to create a simple recipe using pantry staples.
24
Female turkeys do not gobble; only male turkeys make the signature gobbling sound, while females make clicking or clucking noises.
25
The very first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924 featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo, including bears, elephants, and monkeys.
26
Wild turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour and can actually fly for short bursts, despite their heavy appearance.
27
The average American consumes about 3,000 calories during the Thanksgiving meal, which is more than an entire day's worth of food for most people.
28
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up by one week to boost the economy during the Great Depression, an unpopular move that people jokingly nicknamed Franksgiving.
29
Abraham Lincoln was lobbied by a magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale for 17 years before he finally agreed to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
30
The first Thanksgiving lasted for three days, and the participants spent a significant portion of that time competing in marksmanship contests and shooting matches.

Mistletoe Holidays

Mistletoe is actually a partial parasite that steals water and minerals from trees, meaning the plant we kiss under is technically a bit of a freeloader. elaborate

Christmas Around the World Holidays

In Japan, it is a popular tradition to eat a full Christmas dinner from KFC, with many families placing their orders weeks in advance to ensure they get their festive fried chicken. elaborate

Candy Canes Holidays

While many believe candy canes were invented to look like a shepherd's crook to represent the Christmas story, there is no historical evidence to support this, and it is likely just a sweet folklore tale. elaborate

The Grinch Holidays

Dr. Seuss actually drove a car with a license plate that read GRINCH, which he used to get around his hometown of La Jolla, California. elaborate

Christmas Carols Holidays

In the 1600s, Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans banned the singing of Christmas carols in England, declaring them sinful and a distraction from religious devotion. elaborate

A Christmas Carol Holidays

The term Merry Christmas was already well-known, but the popularity of A Christmas Carol helped make the phrase a standard holiday greeting in the Victorian era. elaborate

Thanksgiving

30 facts about Thanksgiving

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30 facts about Thanksgiving

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