As the holiday season draws near, it’s time to gather ’round with your family and friends, young ones included, for some old-fashioned quality time. What better way to celebrate than by testing their knowledge and learn fascinating facts about Thanksgiving!
In this special holiday trivia quiz designed just for kids, we’ll explore the history of Thanksgiving, uncovering interesting facts about its origins and traditions.
But that’s not all! We’ll also dive into the world of Thanksgiving movies and food, allowing them to get excited for all the Thanksgiving goodness to come.
So, gather your family, put on your thinking caps, and prepare to be entertained, educated, and thoroughly delighted by our collection of fun Thanksgiving trivia questions. Let the Thanksgiving games begin!
After playing trivia with the kids, we invite all the parents to challenge themselves with a game of Thanksgiving trivia for adults too!
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Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Questions For Kids
What is the name of the holiday when we celebrate and give thanks for the fall harvest?
Answer: Thanksgiving.
Which month is Thanksgiving usually celebrated in?
Answer: November.
On which day and month is Thanksgiving celebrated annually in the United States?
Answer: The last Thursday in November
Which bird is commonly associated with Thanksgiving?
Answer: Turkey.
What are the three main colors of fall leaves?
Answer: Red, orange, and yellow.
What is the name of the season that comes after summer and before winter?
Answer: Fall or autumn.
What is the name of the orange vegetable that is often carved into jack-o’-lanterns during Halloween and turned into pies for Thanksgiving?
Answer: Pumpkin.
Which vegetable has a hard outer shell and is available in various shapes and colors, such as butternut and acorn?
Answer: Squash.
What is the term for a young turkey?
Answer: Poult.
What sweet dessert is often served during Thanksgiving that is made from mashed sweet potatoes and marshmallows?
Answer: Sweet potato casserole.
What is the name of the dish made from corn, cream, and butter?
Answer: Creamed corn.
Which popular Thanksgiving-themed movie features the character Charlie Brown?
Answer: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
What is the name of the annual parade held in New York City on Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
What berry is traditionally used to make a red and sweet sauce during Thanksgiving?
Answer: Cranberries.
What is the traditional spice used to flavor pumpkin pie, a popular Thanksgiving dessert?
Answer: Cinnamon
What is the name of the bread-like dish made from dried cubes of bread, vegetables, and herbs that is often served as a side during Thanksgiving?
Answer: Stuffing or dressing.
What is the traditional main course of a Thanksgiving meal?
Answer: Turkey.
What part of the turkey do people try to break for good luck during Thanksgiving?
Answer: Wishbone.
What is the name of the traditional Thanksgiving dish made from green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions?
Answer: Green bean casserole.
What is the name of the dish made from a type of starchy vegetable topped with marshmallows and baked until golden brown?
Answer: Sweet potato casserole.
What is the name of the horn-shaped object often associated with Thanksgiving and the fall harvest?
Answer: Cornucopia or horn of plenty. It was a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts.
Which important person in the United States officially pardons a turkey every year on Thanksgiving?
Answer: The President of the United States.
What happens to the turkeys that are officially pardoned at the White House?
Answer: The pardoned turkeys are typically sent to a farm or sanctuary where they can live out the rest of their lives.
Which U.S. president officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln.
What is the name of the holiday celebrated before Thanksgiving, on October 31st, with costumes and trick-or-treating?
Answer: Halloween.
What holiday is celebrated in December, about a month after Thanksgiving?
Answer: Christmas.
What is the term for a group of turkeys?
Answer: A flock.
True or false: All turkeys can fly.
Answer: False. Wild turkeys can fly, but turkeys grown for eating cannot because they are too heavy.
True or false: An average turkey weighs 80 pounds.
Answer: False. The average weight of a single turkey is 15 pounds.
When you spot scarecrows on farms, what is their role or job?
Answer: To scare birds away from the crops.
What is the name of the popular vegetable often served as a side dish during Thanksgiving that is long and orange?
Answer: Carrots.
What is the name of the traditional Thanksgiving dessert made from apples, cinnamon, and sugar?
Answer: Apple pie.
What is the name of the day that follows Thanksgiving and is known for shopping deals?
Answer: Black Friday.
What is the name of the game where people try to toss a beanbag into a hole?
Answer: Cornhole.
True or false: Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Canada.
Anwer: True.
What is the heaviest turkey on record, according to the Guinness World Records — was it 5 pounds, 9 pounds, 86 pounds, or 300 pounds?
Answer: 86 pounds (39 kilograms).
Which gender of turkeys actually gobble — is it the males or females?
Answer: Male turkeys
What is the name of the annual running race held on Thanksgiving Day in the United States?
Answer: Turkey Trot.
Black Friday isn’t the only holiday the day after Thanksgiving. What is the other?
Answer: National Native American Heritage Day, honoring and celebrating their rich cultures, accomplishments, contributions, and heritage.
True or false: The most popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving is tofurky (tofu-based “turkey”).
Answer: False. The most popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving is ham.
Which year is considered the first official Thanksgiving celebration in the United States?
Answer: 1621.
How long did the first Thanksgiving last?
Answer: 3 days.
Where was the first Thanksgiving in the U.S.?
Answer: Plymouth, Massachusetts.
What nationality were the Pilgrims before they came to the New World?
Answer: English.
What famous nursery rhyme is associated with Thanksgiving and was written in honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation?
Answer: “Mary Had a Little Lamb” written by Sarah Josepha Hale
Which famous ship carried the Pilgrims to the New World?
Answer: Mayflower
What Native American tribe is believed to have celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
Answer: Wampanoag
Who was the Native American hero who helped the Pilgrims during their first Thanksgiving and acted as a translator between them and the Native Americans?
Answer: Tisquantum, also known as Squanto.
The first Thanksgiving meal between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe may not have featured turkey. What was the likely centerpiece of the feast?
Answer: It is believed that the centerpiece of the first Thanksgiving feast was roasted venison (deer meat). There was also goose, duck, fish, and porridge or bread made from corn.
What is the name of the national monument in Plymouth, Massachusetts, dedicated to the Pilgrims and the Mayflower?
Answer: Plymouth Rock
Funny Thanksgiving Jokes For Kids
- What sort of music did the pilgrims listen to? Plymouth Rock.
- Why did the scarecrow win an award on Thanksgiving? Because he was outstanding in his field!
- What do you get when you cross a turkey with a ghost? A poultrygeist!
- What did the turkey say after its Thanksgiving dinner? “Boy, I am stuffed!”
- What did the turkey say to the computer on Thanksgiving? “Google, Google, Google!”
- What do you call a running turkey? Fast food!
- Why did the cranberries turn red? Because they saw the turkey dressing!
- What did one pumpkin say to the other on Thanksgiving? “Let’s squash our differences and be thankful!”
- What did the turkey say before it was roasted? “Please don’t butter me up!”
- Why did the turkey cross the road twice? To prove it wasn’t chicken!
- What’s a turkey’s favorite dessert? Peach gobbler!
- What happens if you’re mean to a cranberry? It becomes a blueberry!
- What did the turkey say to the carrot? “You’re my favorite veggie to ‘gobble’ up!”
- What kind of key can’t open doors? A tur-key!
- What did the pilgrims use to make cookies? May-flour.
Thanksgiving: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year.
What is the history and origin of Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving has its origins in the 1621 harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe, but the holiday was officially established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
What is the traditional Thanksgiving meal and what foods are typically served?
The traditional Thanksgiving meal often includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie.
How do people traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is typically celebrated by gathering with family and friends, sharing a meal together, expressing gratitude, and sometimes watching or participating in parades, football games, or charitable activities.
What are some popular Thanksgiving traditions and customs?
Some popular Thanksgiving traditions include sharing what you are thankful for over a meal with your loved ones, the pardoning of a turkey by the president, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and participating in Black Friday shopping. And eating way more calories than you need to!
Are there any specific decorations or symbols associated with Thanksgiving?
Common decorations for Thanksgiving include cornucopias (also known as “horns of plenty”), pumpkins, gourds, autumn leaves, and table centerpieces featuring seasonal flowers or candles.
Are there any specific religious or cultural associations with Thanksgiving?
While Thanksgiving has religious roots for some, it is generally celebrated as a secular holiday in the United States. It is primarily associated with giving thanks and celebrating the harvest season.
What are some alternative options for vegetarians or vegans during Thanksgiving?
Vegetarian or vegan alternatives for Thanksgiving include dishes like Tofurky (a tofu-based roast), vegetable Wellington, lentil loaf, or creative plant-based side dishes and desserts.
How can we give back or volunteer during the Thanksgiving season?
You can give back during the Thanksgiving season by volunteering at local food banks, homeless shelters, or community centers, donating to charitable organizations, or participating in initiatives that support those in need during the holiday season.
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