Thanksgiving is a time for feasting, giving thanks, and learning about the history and traditions that make this holiday special. Use these fact or fiction questions to test your knowledge and discover fascinating facts about Thanksgiving. Are you ready to separate the truths from the myths? Let’s dive into fun-filled questions about the history, customs, and stories of Thanksgiving to see how much you know.
Thanksgiving Fact Or Fiction Questions For Kids – Free Printable
Be sure to include this fun children’s game into your Thanksgiving traditions because as you work your way through the list, you will learn about the story of the first Thanksgiving – one of America’s favorite holidays.
This page will offer a variety of fun questions to ask the kids during your family gathering, but if you are looking for a Thanksgiving printout, feel free to use the sample above. It only carries a handful of the quiz but could help keep the younger ones occupied as you set the table or prepare for dessert. Right-click on the image and save it to your desktop. Then print as many copies as you’d like.
Alternatively, you can just read the questions from this blog post without printing. Whatever is easiest for you on the day of Thanksgiving. Every November, I look for something different to do on our special day with the kids. Hope this helps.
Fact or Fiction Questions About One Of America’s Most-Celebrated Holidays
Question 1: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the last Thursday of November. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
Question 2: Fact or Fiction – The Pilgrims sailed to America on the Mayflower. Answer: Fact. The Pilgrims sailed to America on the Mayflower.
Question 3: Fact or Fiction – Turkeys were once considered for the national bird of the United States. Answer: Fact. Turkeys were considered for the national bird but were not chosen.
*Question 4: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving is only celebrated in the United States. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Canada, though on a different date.
*Question 5: Fact or Fiction – Pumpkin pie is a traditional Thanksgiving dessert. Answer: Fact. Pumpkin pie is a popular dessert on Thanksgiving.
*Question 6: Fact or Fiction – The first Thanksgiving was a one-day event. Answer: Fiction. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted for three days during that first winter.
*Question 7: Fact or Fiction – Cranberries were one of the foods at the first Thanksgiving. Answer: Fact. Cranberries were indeed part of the first Thanksgiving meal.
*Question 8: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving is always on a Sunday. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday.
*Question 9: Fact or Fiction – Black Friday is the day before Thanksgiving. Answer: Fiction. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving.
*Question 10: Fact or Fiction – The President of the United States officially pardons a turkey every year. Answer: Fact. The President pardons a turkey as part of a Thanksgiving tradition.
*Question 11: Fact or Fiction – The main course of the first Thanksgiving was turkey. Answer: Fact. Turkey was the main course at the first Thanksgiving.
*Question 12: Fact or Fiction – Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish. Answer: Fact. Mashed potatoes are a common Thanksgiving side dish.
*Question 13: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863. Answer – Fact. It became a national holiday in North America in 1863. President Abraham Lincoln – one of America’s founding fathers – declared it on the last Thursday in November.
*Question 14: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving has been celebrated since the founding of the United States. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving was not an official holiday until 1863.
*Question 15: Fact or Fiction – The first Thanksgiving was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Answer: Fact. The first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth.
*Question 16: Fact or Fiction – Football is a common Thanksgiving Day activity. Answer: Fact. Watching football is a popular Thanksgiving tradition.
*Question 17: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving always falls on the same date every year. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving’s date varies from year to year.
*Question 18: Fact or Fiction – The Pilgrims’ ship, the Mayflower, had a swimming pool on board. Answer: Fiction. The Mayflower did not have a swimming pool.
*Question 19: Fact or Fiction – The Pilgrims had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Answer: Fiction. The first Thanksgiving had different foods.
*Question 20: Fact or Fiction – The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York City. Answer: Fact. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in NYC. Some consider this the official Thanksgiving celebration on TV.
*Question 21: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving is a religious holiday. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving is a secular holiday. There was never a time when it was a religious Thanksgiving.
*Question 22: Fact or Fiction – The wishbone from the turkey is a symbol of good luck. Answer: Fact. Breaking the wishbone is a tradition for general good fortune.
*Question 23: Fact or Fiction – Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird of the United States. Answer: Fact. Benjamin Franklin supported the idea of the turkey as the national bird.
*Question 25: Fact or Fiction – Thanksgiving is celebrated in every country worldwide. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving is mainly celebrated in the United States and Canada.
Thanksgiving fact or fiction questions about the American holiday
Here are several fact or fiction questions about the first Thanksgiving along with their answers:
- Fact or Fiction: The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621. Answer: Fact.
- Fact or Fiction: The Pilgrims came to America for religious freedom. Answer: Fact.
- Fact or Fiction: The Wampanoag Indians taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn. Answer: Fact.
- Fact or Fiction: The first Thanksgiving feast lasted for an entire week. Answer: Fiction. The first Thanksgiving feast likely lasted for three days.
- Fact or Fiction: James Madison declared two Thanksgivings in one year. Answer: Fact.
- Fact or Fiction: Turkey was the only meat served at the first Thanksgiving. Answer: Fiction. Other meats like venison and seafood were also served.
- Fact or Fiction: No women attended the very first Thanksgiving celebration. Answer: Fiction. 5 women were recorded as part of the original celebration.
- Fact or Fiction: The Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians sat at separate tables during the feast. Answer: Fiction. They likely sat together and shared the meal.
- Fact or Fiction: The TV dinner was invented thanks to Thanksgiving. Answer: Fact.
- Fact or Fiction: There are three U.S. towns named Turkey. Answer: Fact.
- Fact or Fiction: Green bean corn casserole was invented by the Pilgrims. Answer: Fiction. Over time, this dish has become a staple of many Thanksgiving dinners, but it did not originate from the Puritan Thanksgiving.
Fact or fiction questions about the origins of Thanksgiving – the Thanksgiving story
When it comes to the origins of Thanksgiving, American children often hear about a joyous celebration and today take part in things like a turkey trot or find joy in reading about freed birds in children’s books. However, we know that there are many different version of the holiday. Deadly conflicts took place to make this annual tradition the celebration of Thanksgiving we know and love today. Native people and indigenous peoples might not have the same affection for the national Thanksgiving holiday as others.
- Fact or Fiction: The first Thanksgiving was held in 1620. Answer: Fiction. The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621.
- Fact or Fiction: The Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving to mark their successful voyage to America. Answer: Fiction. The Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving to give thanks for a successful harvest.
- Fact or Fiction: The Pilgrims sailed to America on the Mayflower. Answer: Fact. The Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower.
- Fact or Fiction: The Wampanoag Indians taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn and catch fish. Answer: Fact. The Wampanoag played a vital role in teaching the Pilgrims these skills.
- Fact or Fiction: The first Thanksgiving feast included mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Answer: Fiction. The menu was different from modern Thanksgiving feasts.
- Fact or Fiction: Thanksgiving was celebrated as an official holiday since the founding of the United States. Answer: Fiction. Thanksgiving was not an official holiday until Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it in 1863.
- Fact or Fiction: The first football game took place in 1980. Fiction. The first Thanksgiving football game took place in 1876.
- Fact or Fiction: Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird of the United States.Answer: Fact. Benjamin Franklin supported the idea of the turkey as the national bird.
- Fact or Fiction: The primary purpose of the first Thanksgiving was to celebrate the end of the Pilgrims’ voyage. Answer: Fiction. The purpose was to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.
- Fact or Fiction: Harry Truman is the first president to pardon a turkey. Answer: Fiction. It was actually George H.W. Bush who formalized the turkey pardoning tradition in 1989.
These questions and answers should help you explore the historical origins of Thanksgiving and the early events that led to its celebration.