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Thanksgiving Trivia for Seniors

From the Mayflower to the wishbone. Twenty Thanksgiving questions about the history of the holiday, the food on the table and the traditions families still keep, with answers. Easy enough for everyone at the table and full of little-known facts.

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Thanksgiving Trivia

Question 1 of 20

On which Thursday of November is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?

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Large print: 20 questions with A, B and C choices, answers on the last page.

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All 20 questions with answers

On which Thursday of November is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?
A. The firstB. The lastC. The fourth
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C. The fourth
On which ship did the Pilgrims sail to America in 1620?
A. Santa MariaB. MayflowerC. Speedwell
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B. Mayflower
Which Native people shared the 1621 harvest feast with the Pilgrims?
A. WampanoagB. NavajoC. Cherokee
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A. Wampanoag
Which president proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day in 1863?
A. Thomas JeffersonB. Abraham LincolnC. George Washington
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B. Abraham Lincoln
Which writer campaigned for a national Thanksgiving and wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”?
A. Sarah Josepha HaleB. Harriet Beecher StoweC. Louisa May Alcott
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A. Sarah Josepha Hale
Which city hosts a famous Thanksgiving Day parade with giant balloons?
A. PhiladelphiaB. New York CityC. Boston
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B. New York City
Which red berry is cooked into a Thanksgiving sauce?
A. CranberryB. RaspberryC. Cherry
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A. Cranberry
Where did the Pilgrims build their colony?
A. BostonB. JamestownC. Plymouth
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C. Plymouth
What is a male turkey called?
A. A tomB. A drakeC. A rooster
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A. A tom
Which bone do two people pull apart to make a wish?
A. The drumstickB. The backboneC. The wishbone
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C. The wishbone
Which sport is traditionally on TV on Thanksgiving Day?
A. HockeyB. FootballC. Baseball
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B. Football
In which month does Canada celebrate Thanksgiving?
A. OctoberB. SeptemberC. November
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A. October
Which president moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in 1939?
A. Herbert HooverB. Franklin D. RooseveltC. Harry S. Truman
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B. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Which pie is the classic Thanksgiving dessert?
A. LemonB. Key limeC. Pumpkin
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C. Pumpkin
What is a group of turkeys usually called?
A. A packB. A herdC. A flock
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C. A flock
Where does the President “pardon” a turkey each year?
A. The White HouseB. Plymouth RockC. The Capitol
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A. The White House
About how many passengers sailed on the Mayflower?
A. About 500B. About 100C. About 30
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B. About 100
What is the horn-shaped basket of fruit that symbolizes the harvest?
A. CornucopiaB. HamperC. Bushel
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A. Cornucopia
Which bread-based side dish is often cooked inside the turkey?
A. BiscuitsB. CornbreadC. Stuffing
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C. Stuffing
Benjamin Franklin wrote that he preferred which bird to the bald eagle?
A. The turkeyB. The owlC. The robin
Show answer
A. The turkey

Hosting tip

Use the quiz while the turkey rests or as a November activity: split the group into two “Pilgrim” and “Harvest” teams, and finish by asking everyone what they are thankful for this year.