15 Strange Thanksgiving Customs From America’s Past
This article explores 15 unusual Thanksgiving customs that once shaped how Americans celebrated the holiday.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Thanksgiving in America once included strange traditions ranging from masked parades to squirrel dinners and dawn drum marches. Communities embraced creative, chaotic, and often surprising customs that reflected regional lifestyles. These forgotten practices revealed how Thanksgiving constantly evolved before becoming the familiar holiday we know today.
1. 1. Thanksgiving Masking
Image from Library of Congress Blogs
Children in the early 20th-century New York wore masks and old clothes and begged for coins on Thanksgiving. This custom resembled a mix of Halloween and carnival. It created noisy streets and lively chaos before fading away by the 1930s.
2. 2. Ragamuffin Parades
Image from Merriam-Webster
New York City hosted Ragamuffin Parades where kids dressed as beggars wandered around asking, “Anything for Thanksgiving?”. The event filled the streets with costumes and mock poverty. It became a yearly spectacle until the Macy’s Parade replaced it in popularity.
3. 3. Turkey Shoots
Image from DVIDS
Communities across rural America held turkey shoots where men aimed at targets for a chance to win a turkey. The contests often took place in open fields and drew large crowds. It turned Thanksgiving into a noisy display of marksmanship and local bragging rights.
4. 4. Rabbit and Squirrel Feasts
Image from Britannica
Frontier families often served rabbit, squirrel, and other small game instead of turkey. These dishes reflected what families could hunt before winter arrived. It showed how Thanksgiving menus depended on survival rather than tradition.
5. 5. Pumpkin Pie Without Crust
Image from Allrecipes
Early colonial pumpkin pie was not a pie at all but a hollowed pumpkin filled with milk, honey, and spices. Settlers baked the entire pumpkin by placing it near hot coals. It produced a soft, custard-like dish that looked nothing like modern pie.
6. 6. Oyster Stuffing
Image from Fulton Fish Market
Coastal communities regularly served oyster stuffing as a special holiday treat. Oysters were plentiful and cheap in the 19th century, so people cooked them in large batches. The salty dish surprised travelers who expected bread-based stuffing.
7. 7. Football Riot Traditions
Image from NCAA.org
Colleges like Yale and Princeton played Thanksgiving football games that often drew rowdy crowds. Spectators drank heavily and sometimes caused street fights. The games became known for excitement as well as chaos.
8. 8. Frozen Turkey Races
Image from Nourishing Joy
Some small towns held frozen turkey races on icy streets during early twentieth century winters. Participants pushed or slid frozen birds for sport. The contests looked bizarre but became local entertainment before stricter safety rules ended them.
9. 9. Pumpkin Throwing Contests
Image from Medical News Today
Farm communities organized pumpkin-throwing competitions once harvest season ended. People gathered to see who could fling a pumpkin the farthest. It offered a strange but festive way to clear fields before winter.
10. 10. Mock Court Trials
Image from Study Abroad
Some communities held mock trials where locals humorously charged neighbors with silly offenses. Judges delivered playful punishments such as short performances or jokes. These trials gave Thanksgiving gatherings an unusual theatrical flair.
11. 11. Thanksgiving Gun Firings
Image from The Range 702
In parts of colonial America, families fired guns into the air to mark the holiday. The loud blasts signaled celebration rather than danger. It continued until towns began enforcing strict rules on gunfire.
12. 12. “Thanksgiving Spree” Shopping
Image from The Butler Collegian
Before Black Friday existed, some towns treated Thanksgiving as a bargain shopping day. Stores opened early and encouraged families to browse between meals. This strange custom eventually shifted to the Friday rush known today.
13. 13. Community Corn Husking Games
Image from FoodPrint
Large groups gathered for corn husking events that turned into competitions. Participants hunted for red ears of corn, which traditionally required a kiss from someone nearby. It made the holiday surprisingly flirtatious for farm communities.
14. 14. Early Morning Drum Marches
Image from Vice Magazine
Some New England towns sent marching bands through streets at dawn on Thanksgiving morning. The loud drums woke entire neighborhoods. It offered a strange but spirited start to the holiday.
15. 15. “Pie for Breakfast” Tradition
Image from NYT Cooking - The New York Times
Many 19th-century families ate leftover pies as their first meal of the day. They placed pies on the table before any savory dish appeared. The sweet breakfast became a quirky tradition that confused visitors unfamiliar with it.