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James Shepherd
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Take the Thanksgiving Challenge
Plymouth’s 1621 harvest feast is often called the first Thanksgiving. But it didn’t look much like the celebrations you might be used to. For starters, it was probably held in September or October, much earlier than our Thanksgiving Day. And unlike today’s holiday, it lasted for three days.
The menu in 1621 might surprise you too. Experts think the Pilgrims and Wampanoag probably enjoyed duck or turkey. But they say that deer, fish, and eels were probably also on the menu. There were no pies!
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863. Now it’s one of America’s biggest holidays. Check out the infographics for more about how we celebrate it.
Gobble, Gobble
Shutterstock.com
420: Average number of minutes spent preparing Thanksgiving dinner
16: Average number of minutes spent eating Thanksgiving dinner
Source: The Business Farmer
President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an annual holiday in 1863.
From a State to Your Plate
These U.S. states are some of the top producers of favorite Thanksgiving foods.
Sources: USDA and Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
Jim McMahon/Mapman ®
Alaska and Hawaii are not drawn to scale or placed in their proper geographic positions.
A survey asked Americans to name things they like to do on Thanksgiving. Here’s what 100 people said.
76 said visiting family
53 said telling others what they are thankful for
52 said watching or playing football
45 said watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
39 said taking a nap
Pick Your Pie
What pies are most popular on Thanksgiving? Here’s what 100 Americans said in a survey.
Source: PR Newswire/Delta Dental
iStockPhoto/Getty Images
1) Based on the map, which state is a top producer of turkeys? How many turkeys does it produce each year?
2) Look at “Favorite Traditions.” How many people out of 100 said that visiting family was one of their favorite things to do?
3) According to the pie chart, what kind of Thanksgiving pie is more popular than apple but less popular than pumpkin?
1. How was the first Thanksgiving different from Thanksgiving celebrations today?
2. What is the purpose of the map in “From a State to Your Plate”?
3. What is another way you could display the information in “Favorite Traditions”?