18 Thanksgiving Fun Facts Guaranteed To Get People Talking At Your Table
- Caitlin Kindred
- Nov 20, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 24, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving!
This week, Jenny GK, trivia mastermind, dives into Thanksgiving fun facts and trivia. Meanwhile, I tried to avoid getting stumped by the answers! Together, this was a hilarious battle of knowledge and embarrassment!
I learned something new today and it made me laugh out loud. Education can be fun and hilarious! —Jenny GK
In this episode...
Why plumbers consider Black Friday their Super Bowl
Kitchen wisdom that'll save your disposal and your sanity
Plus more table-ready trivia that'll make you the most interesting person at dinner
Thanksgiving Fun Facts You'll Actually Want to Share
This episode is packed with Thanksgiving trivia that'll make you the most interesting person at the table. We're unpacking the real history, the weird presidential moments, and the facts that'll make everyone stop mid-bite and say "wait, really?"
No matter how embarrassing it may be, I embrace my lack of knowledge and find joy in discovering new facts. —CK
Sarah Josepha Hale: The Woman Who Made Thanksgiving Official
All hail Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman responsible for making Thanksgiving a national holiday.
She lobbied presidents for 17 years before Lincoln finally made it official in 1863.
Fun fact: She's also the woman who wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Yes, that one.
Sarah had traditionally conservative views (definitely not a feminist), but her determination to get Thanksgiving recognized shows what one persistent person can accomplish. Now if only she'd advocated for equal gender roles in the cooking and cleaning that day…
The Oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade Isn't Macy's
Did you know the tradition of Thanksgiving Day parades started in Philadelphia in 1920? That's four years before the famous Macy's parade in New York.
I make the parade an integral part of my Thanksgiving celebration—and yes, I cry watching it every year. Don't @ me.
More Thanksgiving Trivia to Blow Your Mind
What do Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, Matt Damon, and Taylor Swift all have in common?
According to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, they're all descendants of passengers or crew on the Mayflower. Wild, right?
Black Friday is the biggest day of the year for what profession?
Plumbers. Because apparently everyone ruins their garbage disposal on Thanksgiving. (We cover how to avoid this in the episode.)
How many calories does the average person consume at Thanksgiving dinner?
4,500. And honestly? Worth it.
What percent of Americans skip turkey on Thanksgiving?
About 12%. Heathens. (Just kidding—you do you.)
Who was the first president to pardon a turkey?
JFK gave the first modern pardon, but George H.W. Bush made it an annual tradition.
How many women were at the very first Thanksgiving celebration?
Five. Just five women cooking for everyone else. Cool cool cool.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!
Love,
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