Thanksgiving is a time for family, feasting, and reflecting on the things we're grateful for. But there's more to this American tradition than turkey and pumpkin pie. Whether you spend it watching football, planning Black Friday deals, or simply enjoying a slice of pecan pie, Thanksgiving has a rich history filled with fun and fascinating trivia. From quirky traditions to surprising origins, here are 10 Thanksgiving fun facts that will make great conversation starters at your dinner table.

Fun Fact #1: The First Thanksgiving Didn’t Have Turkey  

Turkey might be the star of modern Thanksgiving dinners, but it wasn’t likely on the menu in 1621. Historians suggest that the first feast included venison, seafood like lobster and clams, and possibly wild fowl like ducks or geese.  

Fun Fact #2: Thanksgiving Wasn't An Annual Celebration Until The 1800s  

While the first Thanksgiving happened in 1621, it wasn’t an annual holiday for more than 200 years. Thanksgiving became an official, recurring holiday thanks to the relentless efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential magazine editor who also wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb."  

Fun Fact #3: The Presidential Turkey Pardon Is A Relatively New Tradition  

Every year, the sitting U.S. President pardons a turkey, sparing it from being served at the dinner table. While the tradition became formalized in 1989 by George H.W. Bush, there’s evidence that Abraham Lincoln started the custom when his son's pet turkey was spared.  

Fun Fact #4: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Is 99 Years Old  

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924 but didn’t feature its famous oversized balloons until three years later. Today, it’s a spectacle synonymous with Thanksgiving, attracting millions of viewers annually.  

Fun Fact #5: TV Dinners Were Invented Because Of Thanksgiving  

Frozen TV dinners owe their existence to a 1950s Thanksgiving surplus. Swanson overestimated how much turkey it would sell and turned about 260 tons of leftovers into the first commercially available frozen meals.  

Fun Fact #6: Thanksgiving Is The Busiest Day For Plumbers  

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers. “Clog Friday,” as some call it, comes from all the kitchen scraps and grease being dumped into sinks, along with the additional bathroom use from guests.  

Fun Fact #7: Black Friday Wasn’t Always About Shopping  

The day after Thanksgiving is famously known as Black Friday, kicking off the holiday shopping season. But its original meaning dates back to the 1950s when police in Philadelphia coined the term to describe the chaotic, crowded streets after Thanksgiving football games.  

Fun Fact #8: The Detroit Lions Started Thanksgiving Football Tradition  

Football has been a Thanksgiving tradition since 1934, thanks to the Detroit Lions. Back then, the Lions faced off against the Chicago Bears, and the rest is history. Today, millions tune in every Thanksgiving for NFL games.  

Fun Fact #9: Pumpkin Pie Wasn’t Always A Thanksgiving Staple  

Pumpkin pie may seem quintessentially Thanksgiving, but early celebrations likely featured boiled pumpkin mixed into savory dishes rather than the sweet pie we love today.  

Fun Fact #10: Minnesota Produces The Most Turkeys In The U.S.  

Minnesota is the leader in turkey farming, producing about 42 million turkeys each year. Chances are, the bird on your table traveled from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.