The Warner Agency Newsletter -

Fun Facts About Thanksgiving!

Here are some fun, surprising, and entertaining Thanksgiving facts

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12 Fun Thanksgiving Facts

1. Turkeys can actually fly!

Wild turkeys can fly up to 55 mph for short distances. Domestic turkeys, however, are generally too heavy to fly.

Traditional pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream with a slice taken out

2. Pumpkin pie wasn't on the original menu!

The Pilgrims didn't have the butter, flour, or ovens needed to make today's traditional pumpkin pies at the 1621 harvest celebration.

3. Americans eat millions of turkeys!

Roughly 40–46 million turkeys are commonly estimated to be eaten around Thanksgiving in the United States.

Wind could ground big balloons at NYC’s Thanksgiving parade

4. The first Macy's Thanksgiving Parade had live animals!

The 1924 parade featured animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. Giant character balloons arrived in 1927.

5. Benjamin Franklin admired the turkey. He famously described the turkey as a more respectable bird than the bald eagle in a private letter, but he never formally proposed replacing the eagle as America's national symbol.

6. Thanksgiving wasn't always on a Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday earlier in 1939 to extend the Christmas shopping season. Congress ultimately established the fourth Thursday of November as the federal holiday.

7. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days! The 1621 harvest gathering involved English colonists and members of the Wampanoag people, with feasting and recreation over several days.

8. TV dinners have a Thanksgiving connection. Swanson's famous 1953 surplus-turkey story helped popularize frozen TV dinners in the 1950s.

9. The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line has been answering turkey questions since 1981. Every year, cooks call looking for advice on thawing, roasting, and preparing their Thanksgiving bird.

10. Cranberries can bounce! Fresh, ripe cranberries have tiny air pockets inside that help them bounce. In fact, bouncing has been used to help sort cranberries.

11. Thanksgiving leftovers inspired a classic sandwich. The turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy sandwich has become almost as much of a tradition as the meal itself.

12. Thanksgiving is one of America's biggest running days. Communities across the country host thousands of participants in Thanksgiving morning "Turkey Trots."

A Little Thanksgiving Trivia!

1. Which president established Thanksgiving as a national annual holiday in 1863?

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

Theodore Roosevelt

2. What year was the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

1924

1945

1960

3. What is a baby turkey called?

Chick

Gosling

Poult

Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder that some of life's greatest blessings are the simplest — family, friends, good food, and time spent together.

From all of us at our State Farm Agency, we're thankful for the opportunity to serve you and your family.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with laughter, gratitude, and maybe an extra slice of pumpkin pie! 🥧🍂

Thanks, Joan Warner, Agent.

November, 2026