Thanksgiving is celebrated in the US and Canada. Canada was the first to start celebrating in 1578. The US started in 1621.
Thanksgiving started as a religious celebration of praise and thankfulness
Thanksgiving was made a national holiday in 1863 by President Lincoln
Pilgrims and the Wampanaug Indians most likely had venison, lobster, and oysters for the first Thanksgiving, not turkey.
The tradition of watching football started in 1920
The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was in 1924 and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo.
Approximately 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving day- double the number eaten for Christmas.
Only male turkeys gobble. The average turkey weighs 15 pounds.
The wishbone tradition was brought to England by the Romans in 322 BC
The first turkey was pardoned by President Harry Truman in 1947, but it didn't become a tradition until President George WH Bush pardoned a bird in 1989.
And if you have any tough turkey questions, you can call the Butterball Hotline.
From the Butterball Hotline:
Call 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372) or text 844-877-3456.
2018 Turkey Talk-Line Hours (Central Standard Time):
November 1st - 16th: 8 am - 8 pm (Monday - Friday)
November 17th - 18th: 8 am - 6 pm
November 19th - 20th: 7 am - 9 pm
November 21st: 7am - 10pm
November 22nd (Thanksgiving Day): 6 am - 6 pm
November 23rd - December 21st: 8 am - 6 pm (Monday - Friday)
December 22nd - 23rd: 8 am - 2 pm
December 24th (Christmas Eve): 8 am - 2 pm
