Our benevolant furry overlord, Skye, the commander-in-chief and utterly-adorable boxador who is really in charge around here, has commanded us to bring you hearty greetings on this blessed Thanksgiving day. She — and we — are thankful for each of you who read and support Commonplace Fun Facts.
In honor of the holiday, we refer you to our favorite Thanksgiving-related Commonplace articles:
The Year of Two Thanksgivings: a Fascinating Historical Quirk
Discover the intriguing history behind 1939’s “Year of Two Thanksgivings,” when America celebrated Thanksgiving on different days, creating confusion and debate.
The First Thanksgiving Menu: What the Pilgrims Really Ate (No Popcorn Included)
What was on the first Thanksgiving menu in 1621? Not what you might have expected!
The First Turkey Pardoned By a President
The U.S. Constitution gives the President virtually unlimited authority to grant pardons to anyone facing federal charges. Except for William Henry Harrison and James Garfield, all of the nation’s chief executives have exercised that privilege. Each time the President intervenes and wipes someone’s record clean, it has generated controversy and accusations of playing politics. Well,…
You Can Identify the Gender of a Turkey by the Shape of Its Poo
The nearer we get to Thanksgiving, the more we see turkeys all around us. No, we’re not referring to all of the politicians who running around, trying to get votes. We refer to the animal that appears in holiday advertisements and is the center of attraction at the Thanksgiving feast. Have you wondered how to…
Hey, You Turkey…. I’m Batman, Turkey!
In 2008 Hüseyin Kalkan, the mayor of the city of Batman, Turkey, threatened to sue Warner Bros. and the director The Dark Knight, for using the name “Batman” without the city’s permission. “There is only one Batman in the world,” Kalkan said. “The American producers used the name of our city without informing us.” Kalkan’s allegations…
How Disney Made Us Believe Lemmings Commit Mass Suicide
In this uncertain world, there are at least three things on which all of us can be certain: Disney loves animals, nature documentaries are reliable, and lemmings commit mass suicide by throwing themselves off cliffs. If that summarizes your philosophy of life, prepare to have your world shaken. One of the most enduring beliefs about…
Beware the Dangers of Eating Yourself to Death
Is eating yourself to death a possibility? Discover the strange stories of historical figures who may have met an early end through overeating.
Don’t Spend Christmas in the Emergency Room
Christmas is a time to spend in church, shopping in stores, and visiting the homes of family and friends. For too many people, it is also a time to spend in the hospital, recovering from Christmas decoration-related injuries. According to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), holiday decorations do more than…
November — A Month for Eating Healthy, Spicy, or Just Plain Pigging Out
In the United States the month of November has been designated as National Good Nutrition Month. Interestingly enough, it is also National Peanut Butter Month, National Pepper Month, and, of course, the month in which Thanksgiving is celebrated — most notably by overeating.
The Perfect Aviation Crime
On the night before Thanksgiving, November 24, 1971, a passenger by the name of Dan Cooper boarded a plane in Portland, Oregon, bound for Seattle. Clad in a suit and raincoat, wearing dark glasses and carrying a briefcase, he sat silently in the back of the plane. After calmly lighting a cigarette, he ordered a…
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