Thanksgiving might be all about the turkey and pie now, but this holiday has some surprising twists in its history—like Christmas carols meant for Thanksgiving, and a turkey pardon born from a White House joke. Get ready to discover the quirks that make this holiday uniquely American!

The Bird Almost Didn’t Make it on the Menu

Believe it or not, turkey wasn’t the first choice for Thanksgiving. Early feasts likely featured venison, seafood, and other local fare. Turkeys made it onto tables over time as they became more affordable and accessible for families.

The TV Dinner’s Surprising Thanksgiving Origin 

The TV dinner emerged in 1953 after Swanson misjudged demand and ended up with 260 tons of frozen turkey. To clear the stockpile, they packaged pre-cooked turkey meals in compartmentalized trays. The idea took off instantly and transformed American convenience food.

Thanksgiving Wasn’t an Annual Celebration Until Lincoln 

Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 after years of lobbying by Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor who also wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb." She believed a shared day of gratitude would help unify the country.

"Jingle Bells" Was Originally a Thanksgiving Tune
James Lord Pierpont composed the song in 1857 under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" for a Thanksgiving church event. Its catchy melody spread quickly and became tied to Christmas over time.

The Macy’s Parade Once Floated Real Animals 

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924 included lions, camels, and other zoo animals from the Central Park Zoo. Giant balloons replaced live animals in the early 1930s and became the parade’s signature spectacle.

Turkey Pardons Began as an Inside Joke 

Presidents occasionally spared turkeys sent to the White House, but it was not a formal practice. The modern tradition began in 1989 when George H. W. Bush explicitly announced that the turkey before him would be granted a pardon.

Minnesota: The Turkey Capital 

The United States raises more than 200 million turkeys a year. Minnesota is the top-producing state and supplies millions of birds nationwide.

Turkey Isn’t What Makes You Sleepy

Turkey contains tryptophan, but the real cause of post-dinner fatigue is the heavy meal itself. Carbohydrates, desserts, and sheer quantity trigger the drowsiness most people blame on the bird.

Thanksgiving Has Its Own Football Tradition 

College teams began scheduling Thanksgiving games in the late 1800s. The Detroit Lions started their annual NFL Thanksgiving game in 1934, but the tradition was already well established.

Thanksgiving’s Leftover Tradition Started Early 

Early settlers used every part of the feast, and the habit stuck. Today’s turkey sandwiches and creative leftover dishes are simply a modern version of a long-standing practice of not wasting food.In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up by one week to boost the holiday shopping season. The change divided states and frustrated the public. Congress settled the debate in 1941 by establishing the holiday as the fourth Thursday in November.

‘Franksgiving’ - A Thanksgiving That Almost Divided the Nation 

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week to extend the holiday shopping season, sparking protests and the tongue-in-cheek name “Franksgiving.” The public outcry led to a compromise, and Thanksgiving was officially set as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941.