Here is a list of Thanksgiving trivia facts for you to impress everyone during the holiday. Everyone hates a showoff! We have our list here and a great video about the history of Thanksgiving. Please add your own Thanksgiving facts in the comments.
The modern history of Thanksgiving traces back in history to the Pilgrims who arrived in America in December, 1619. They faced a terribly difficult first winter and in the springtime first met Indians in the New World.
The American Indians showed them how to plant corn using fish and generally welcomed the newcomers. Two years later in the fall after the second harvest, the Indians and Pilgrims gathered together in a show of friendship and Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving today traces back to that first feast.
Thanksgiving Trivia 1: When did Thanksgiving become an official federal holiday?
1941 by act of Congress. But much earlier during the Civil War in 1863, Abraham Lincoln first proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to improve morale in the north. He first set the date in November.
Thanksgiving Trivia 2: Why does the Thanksgiving date change each year?
Thanksgiving is always on the third Thursday in November. It is the only national holidays that floats on a midweek day.
Thanksgiving Trivia 3: What kinds of food did the Pilgrims and Indians eat that first Thanksgiving?
Pheasant, deer, fish, shellfish, local fruit, squash and pumpkin. Turkey and stuffing were not on the menu.
Thanksgiving Trivia 4: When did Thanksgiving originate?
Before our first American Thanksgiving which is now celebrated as a secular holiday, there were days of thanksgiving which date back through the middle ages as Christian celebrations. The first day of lent during Advent has been traditionally celebrated with a Thanksgiving feast.
Thanksgiving Trivia 5: Who was at the first Thanksgiving?
The famous Indian Squanto is the most recognized luminary to us laymen because he captured our attention as children. But at the time, William Branford and Edward Winslow were there. They later became governors and each has an important page in our early American history books.
You can read more Thanksgiving trivia on other websites. See here and here and for kids.
See the cool video below and give us your most interesting Thanksgiving history factoid in the comments.
Thanksgiving Trivia Video