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If Thanksgiving weren’t so much work, it might easily slip by us between Halloween and Christmas. From counting heads to buying groceries, coordinating potlucks, and showcasing everyone’s culinary skills, there’s a lot that goes into this holiday.

But as we approach Thanksgiving, we remember the true reason for gathering with family and friends: to celebrate all that we’re thankful for. We’re especially grateful for our incredible customers and vendors who have supported us for 40 years. Thank you for your continued business and support!

Origin of Thanksgiving

Before the arrival of Europeans, Indigenous peoples across North America had their own traditions of giving thanks for the bounty of the land, honoring their ancestors, and strengthening community bonds.

In 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast to celebrate their survival and cooperation after a difficult first year in the New World. Over time, this shared meal evolved into the Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate today.

Fun Facts to Gobble Up

There's a lot of risk involved in cooking a turkey. Undercook it, and you risk food poisoning. Overcook it, and you'll end up with dry, turkey jerky. Need help? Butterball offers a helpline during November and December to guide you through thawing and cooking the perfect turkey. You can reach them at 1-800-BUTTERBALL.

One of the most popular Thanksgiving casseroles is the classic green bean casserole. This dish, featuring green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions, was published in a little soup recipe pamphlet by Campbell's Soup Company in the 1950s.

While US presidents occasionally pardoned turkeys on Thanksgiving, it was George H.W. Bush who formalized the tradition in 1989, making it an annual White House event. Every US president since has continued this tradition.

The start of college football on Thanksgiving began in 1876 with a game between Princeton and Yale. Separately, the NFL Thanksgiving Day game tradition started in 1920 with a matchup between the Akron Pros and the Canton Bulldogs.

In 1705, a frozen river in Colchester, Connecticut, caused a shortage of liquid sugar. This delayed Thanksgiving for about a week, as pumpkin pie couldn't be made without sugar.

In 1953, Swanson Food Corporation overestimated Thanksgiving turkey demand. To repurpose the excess 260 tons leftover, they introduced TV dinners, selling over 10 million in their first year at just $0.98 each.

Our beloved Sesame Street friend, Big Bird, was made with real turkey feathers that were dyed yellow. American Plume & Fancy Feather, the company that created the costume, considered Big Bird their toughest customer. This is because 90% of the feathers were rejected for not meeting their strict cleanliness standards.

Snoopy made his debut as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon in 1968. Over the years, there have been seven different Snoopy balloons, and he has appeared in the parade 39 times up until 2015, when he was replaced by Charlie Brown.

The idea that turkey makes you sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner is a common myth. While tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, is often blamed, the real culprit is a phenomenon called postprandial fatigue. After overeating, your body naturally enters a state of relaxation, making you feel sleepy. So, it's not just the turkey; it's the overall indulgence in Thanksgiving food that contributes to that post-meal drowsiness.