I have so much to be grateful for! My husband, Jon, my partner in crime, and amazing father and husband, is embarking on an exciting new business venture. All three of my children are thriving! Lauren and Ethan are in college, and Nolan is a junior in high school. Plus, my company, LEN Care (named after them), is successfully growing as Home Helpers® Wheaton & Naperville!
The entire team celebrated our first anniversary in September, and we recognized National Gratitude Month recently with a Gratitude Day, so I could recognize and reward the hard-working staff and caregivers I employ. Without them, LEN Care/Home Helpers® would not have survived the first year!
While you prepare to count your blessings and prepare for your family’s day of gratitude, I thought I’d have some fun and share some interesting Thanksgiving trivia for family entertainment on Turkey Day! These questions can be made into a game you can play as a family, with seniors, or you can make it a learning opportunity for youngsters.
Q: What town canceled Thanksgiving because they couldn’t make pumpkin pies?
A: Colchester, Connecticut
In October 1705, frigid weather caused the Connecticut River to freeze, and settlers were unable to get the liquid sugar being shipped from across the pond. So, the citizens postponed Thanksgiving for a week.
Q: What professional football team has played nearly every Thanksgiving since 1934?
A: Detroit Lions
George Richards purchased the Portsmouth Ohio Spartans in 1934 and relocated the team to Detroit, MI. He decided to host a Thanksgiving Day game against the neighboring Chicago Bears to attract fans. The Lions have played every Thanksgiving Day since, with the exception of 1939-1944 due to World War II.
The Dallas Cowboys began their own Thanksgiving game-day in 1966, missing only 1975 & 1977.
Q: What city is home to the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade?
A: Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Gimbel Brothers Department Store parade in 1920 had only 50 people, 15 cars, and a fireman serving as Santa Claus. Today, the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade is much bigger! It was the inspiration behind Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which started in 1924.
Q: What did President Calvin Coolidge famously receive as a Thanksgiving gift?
A: A live raccoon
In November 1926, Vinnie Joyce of Nitta Yuma, Mississippi, sent the 30th President of the United States a live raccoon to be served as Thanksgiving dinner. However, the President became so smitten with the furry animal that he pardoned it and adopted it as a pet. He named it Rebecca.
Q: Has Thanksgiving always been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November?
A: No. It was held on the third Thursday of November in 1939.
President Roosevelt wanted to add an extra week of holiday shopping time, so he rescheduled Thanksgiving to the third Thursday. It did not go over well with football coaches who had scheduled Thanksgiving Day games and couldn’t change their marketing calendars, and Americans were not amused either. Thanksgiving was changed back to the fourth Thursday in 1942.
Q: A Thanksgiving turkey mix-up inspired what popular meal trend?
A: Frozen TV dinners
In 1953, a Swanson employee accidentally ordered a colossal shipment of Thanksgiving turkeys (260 tons, to be exact). To deal with the excess, salesman Gerry Thomas took inspiration from the prepared foods served on airplanes. He came up with the idea of filling 5,000 aluminum trays with the turkey – along with cornbread dressing, gravy, peas, and sweet potatoes to complete the offering. The 98-cent meals were a hit, especially with kids and increasingly busy households.
Q: How many turkeys do Americans prepare on Thanksgiving?
A: 46 million
Most American families wouldn't dream of Thanksgiving without a turkey. While not super popular the rest of the year, turkey is a huge hit for holidays, probably because it can serve large gatherings.
Q: What percentage of Americans actually eat turkey on Thanksgiving?
A: 88%
Not everyone likes turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, 88% of Americans chow down on Thanksgiving turkey. The rest may be vegetarian or vegan, or just taking a stand against a protein that, let's face it, doesn't show up much the rest of the year for a reason.
Q: How many grams of fat do Americans consume on Thanksgiving?
A: 229 grams
That’s about three to four times the amount of fat you should eat in a day. And while this is probably not news to those of us who go for second or third helpings of the big meal, the entire Thanksgiving dinner could total over 3,000 calories.
Q: What happens to the turkeys the President pardons each year?
A: The pardoned turkeys are allowed to live fulfilled lives.
President George H.W. Bush pardoned the first turkey in 1989 after he noticed the 50-pound bird at his official Thanksgiving proclamation looked a little nervous. Every president has upheld the tradition, ever since. But what happens to that lucky bird that lives to squawk another day? In 2005 and 2009, the turkeys went to Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks to serve as grand marshals in their annual Thanksgiving parades.
Your Thanksgiving trivial pursuit can continue thanks to Good Housekeeping! They supplied the article where I found these interesting facts, and I hope you and your family enjoy them as much as I have!
If you are a senior who is not participating in a turkey day celebration with family or friends, my entire team at Home Helpers® wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving, and we want you to know we are here for you if you need us.
I am happy to offer a FREE Assessment to discuss specific details about the in-home care services we provide at Home Helpers®. After this assessment of needs, I will customize a care plan and choose the perfect caregiver to make life easier, happier, and more enjoyable this holiday season and beyond!
Home Helpers® Wheaton & Naperville is proudly Making Life Easier℠ for veterans and those with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury or surgery in Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estate, Roselle, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield. Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2022, as well as the 2022 Super Star Award from Caring.com. Contact our award-winning team today if we can help make life easier for you or a loved one: 630.800.3837
Source:
Good Housekeeping
