10 Fun Facts We Bet You Didn’t Know About Thanksgiving
You can almost taste the turkey smothered in gravy and smell the stuffing in the air. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and with it, comes all of the fixin’s—cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream, green bean casserole, yams with toasted marshmallows, and mashed potatoes. You have been waiting for this flavor explosion all year long, and now you only have to wait a couple more days!
But, are you ready for the Thanksgiving dinner conversation? Do you have some fun facts that could inspire a lively debate? The Marc Pro team has you covered with some Thanksgiving tidbits that are sure to give as much flavor to the conversation as the dinner that you’ll be gobbling up.
10 Thanksgiving Fun Facts
1. Over 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving Day in the United States, according to the National Turkey Federation. We find it important to note that there is also a National Turkey Federation—who knew?
2. The states that produce the most pumpkins include California, New York, and Pennsylvania. These states produce over 1 billion pounds of pumpkin annually. How many paleo pumpkin pies could you make with all of those pumpkins?
3. The Macy’s Christmas Parade first launched on Thanksgiving Day in 1924 to signify the start to the Christmas shopping season. The parade is now referred to as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Already thinking about your shopping list for the holidays? Consider the Marc Pro for the person who may enjoy the ultimate recovery gadget!
4. A “spooked turkey” can run up to speeds of 20 miles per hour.
5. A typical turkey contains about 30% dark meat, and 70% white meat. What type of meat do you prefer?
6. In 1953, the company, Swanson, misjudged how many turkeys Americans would consume on Thanksgiving by 26 tons. As a result, TV dinners were created to include the extra meat and some sides. Marketing genius!
7. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. He believe that the eagle had “bad moral character” while the turkey was a “much more respectable bird.”
8. Only male turkeys gobble, while female turkeys cluck.
9. Almost one million individuals complete a running road race on Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is the most popular day for road races in the United States. Want to jump in for some of the running fun before Thanksgiving dinner? Check out some of the best Thanksgiving road races in the country.
10. The oldest Turkey Trot race is the Buffalo Turkey Trot, and has been put on by the YMCA since 1896.
With your newfound plethora of Thanksgiving facts, you are sure to impress anyone at the table!
The entire Marc Pro team wishes you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving! If you have a Thanksgiving fun fact to share, tweet it to us @themarcpro or share a Thanksgiving photo with us on Instagram.