How much do you know about Thanksgiving? I’ve put together a list of fun facts that you can share around the table to impress your friends and family with on Thanksgiving Day!
- Turkeys originated in North and Central America, and evidence indicates that they have been around for over 10 million years
- Until 1863, Thanksgiving Day has not been celebrated annually since the first feast in 1621. This changed in 1863 when Sarah Josepha Hale encouraged Abraham Lincoln to set aside the last Thursday in November “as a day for national thanksgiving and prayer”
- Only male turkeys (toms) gobble. Females (hens) make a clicking noise
- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 46 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving, 22 million on Christmas and 19 million on Easter
- There are four places in the U.S. named Turkey. Turkey Creek, Louisiana; Turkey, Texas; Turkey, North Carolina; and Turkey Creek, Arizona
- The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog, and was grown in England
- Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef
- 88% of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation eat turkey on Thanksgiving
- The average weight of a Thanksgiving turkey is 15 pounds
- Turkeys see in color
- Gobbling turkeys can be heard a mile away on a quiet day
- Commercially raised turkeys can not fly
- Eating turkey does not cause you to feel sleepy after your Thanksgiving dinner. Carbohydrates are the likely cause of your drowsiness
- Turkeys will have 3,500 feathers at maturity
- Turkey eggs hatch in 28 days
- The Native Americans hunted wild turkey for its sweet, juicy meat as early as 1000 A.D.
- Turkey feathers were used by Native Americans to stabilize arrows
- Turkeys have heart attacks. The United States Air Force was doing test runs and breaking the sound barrier. Nearby turkeys dropped dead with heart attacks
- Wild turkeys were almost wiped out in the early 1900’s. Today there are wild turkeys in every state except Alaska
- A large group of turkeys is called a flock
- A domesticated male turkey can reach a weight of 30 pounds within 18 weeks after hatching
- June is National Turkey Lover’s Month
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