Mindless Fact Monday ~ November 24, 2008

Thanksgiving Edition

~ The pilgrims arrived in North America in 1620. By fall of 1621, only half of the pilgrims had survived. The survivors, thankful to be alive, decided to have a Thanksgiving feast.

~ The pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, organized the first Thanksgiving feast and invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians. These Wampanoag Indians had taught the pilgrims how to cultivate the land.

~ George Washington, and others, wanted to have an official day of Thanksgiving, and proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. Several people did not want it, including Thomas Jefferson, who thought Thanksgiving was "the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard."

~ Abe Lincoln issued a "Thanksgiving Proclamation" on October 3, 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday in November for Thanksgiving. Previous presidents used to make an annual proclamation to specify when Thanksgiving would be held.

~ Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be the turkey instead of the bald eagle. According to Franklin, "The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and a true original native of America."

~ In any one year, 250 million turkeys are raised to be eaten. However, 45 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving alone.

~ The average weight for a Thanksgiving turkey is 15 pounds.

~ The heaviest turkey ever recorded was 86 pounds.

~ Israel has the highest turkey consumption per capita.

~ The average person consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving day.