For this installment of my sometimes weekly motivation column, I offer these 13 things you never knew about Thanksgiving. May your D/FW Thanksgiving be full of grace, and may you avoid the meat sweats.
1. Friends produced a Thanksgiving-themed episode nearly every year of its 10-year run, except for one: 1995, Season two’s “The One With The List.” Writers slipped in a “Mocklate” storyline at the last minute for NBC execs, but it’s the only Friends season not to have a dedicated Thanksgiving episode.
2. A kind Boston man offers a Thanksgiving meal to anyone who RSVPs, and he’s done so for 33 years. The tradition began when the divorced loner took out an ad in the newspaper, inviting others who’d spend the holiday alone to come eat together. Through the years, thousands have come to Scott Macaulay‘s table and given thanks together.
3. The only two teams that host a Thanksgiving Day game every year are the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
4. Las Vegas is surprisingly busy on Thanksgiving, with hour-plus long waits the standard for buffets on The Strip. Instead, head to Ellis Island Casino, back behind Bally’s. Score a $12 Steak and Eggs meal, then play your member reward card to get a free pumpkin pie.
5. Yet another meal you can cook in your Instant Pot: An eight-pound turkey for Thanksgiving.
6. Among the restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Dallas: Truluck’s, III Forks, Silver Fox, Eddie V’s, Del Frisco’s, and of course, The Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, serving Thanksgiving favorites and a pastry buffet.
7. There are five new character floats in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Goku, a blue-haired warrior from Dragon Ball Super, and four Christmas Chronicles elves named Fleck, Bjorn, Jojo, and Hugg.
8. Best Buy, DSW, Macy’s, Old Navy, Target, Ulta, select Victoria’s Secret stores, and Wal-Mart are all open on Thanksgiving Day.
9. Nearly 14 percent of all Black Friday specials offer no discount, or are actually more expensive than regular price, according to a WalletHub’s Best Things To Buy on Black Friday report.
10. It’s not Adam Sandler’s Thanksgiving classic, but Saturday Night Live offered this little turkey day diddy from guest host Steve Carrell: an 80s synth pop song called Turkey Dance.
11. Ever wonder where the tradition of breaking a wishbone for good luck originated? It all started with the ancient Romans, who pulled apart chicken clavicles—formally know as the bird’s furcula—in hopes of achieving good fortune
12. Pringles released three limited edition flavors this year: Thanksgiving Dinner, Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie. Sold exclusively online, they sold out in 41 minutes.
13. For 2018, there’s only one new breed appearing in The National Dog Show airing on Thanksgiving Day, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. A spaniel-type dog of Dutch descent, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will join the Working Group.
