We have been reading a lot about Thanksgiving lately. That’s not surprising because today is the actual holiday. Of course, we have read the usual articles: What are the best side dishes to make? How to avoid politics at the table! How to best watch NFL games today! What time are the playing Alice’s Restaurant? Same story, different year.
But since we’re Complete Public Relations, we thought we would give you something different to focus on this Thanksgiving. Here are four fun facts that you can share at the dining room table that won’t upset any in-laws nor get a turkey thrown across a room. Share them in mirth. Now, pass the giblets.
— The famed turkey drop episode from WKRP in Cincinnati was actually based on a real event from Atlanta, according to MentalFloss.As God as my witness, there are a lot of versions of what really happened, but apparently live turkeys were released by a radio station. In case you don’t know what we are talking about, watch this clip.
— Video of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown was first aired in the Thanksgiving special, which debuted in 1973. Of course, the famed pulling the ball stunt had been seen on the comics page for years. What most people don’t know, is that Lucy wasn’t always being mean for being mean’s sake. Originally, she was seeking revenge after Charlie Brown refused to let her play football with the boys. She was finally allowed to be the holder, and then she yanked the ball, Charlie fell and the rest is history.
— The Macy’s Parade is not the oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s not even that original of an idea. Gimbel’s Department Store in Philadelphia was looking for a way to spark holiday traffic so it launched a parade in 1920. Of course, the Macy’s parade came along four years later and now is synonymous with the holiday.
— The Detroit Lions first hosted a Thanksgiving Day game in 1934 as a way to drum up interest for new team in the Motor City. Thanksgiving had been a day for college and high school teams until that point, but the Lions wanted a piece of the sporting pie (bad thanksgiving pun). Save for a few years during World War II, they have hosted a game every year since.
