1. When and where is Thanksgiving celebrated?

Thanksgiving is celebrated every 4th Thursday of November in the United States and on the 2nd
Monday of October in Canada.
2. What are some of the traditional activities associated with Thanksgiving?
Traditional Thanksgiving activities include traveling to be with family, having a large dinner
together, watching football games, participating in charity events that provide meals for those in
need, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and the White House turkey pardoning
ceremony.
3. Why is the turkey a popular dish on Thanksgiving?
The turkey is a popular Thanksgiving dish because it became a symbol of the harvest feast
shared between the Pilgrims and Native Americans during the first Thanksgiving. Roast turkey is
now considered a staple of the Thanksgiving meal.
4. How did the Pilgrims and Native Americans first interact?
When the Pilgrims first arrived, many became sick and died. The Native Americans helped them
by giving them food and teaching them how to survive in their new home by growing crops,
hunting, and identifying edible plants.
5. What did the Native Americans teach the Pilgrims about survival in America?
The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn, hunt, and which local plants were
safe to eat. This allowed the remaining Pilgrims to survive and establish their colony.
6. What was the importance of the feast shared in 1621?
The feast shared in 1621 celebrated the successful harvest the Pilgrims were able to have with
the help of the Native Americans. It also celebrated the new alliance and peace treaty between
the groups.
7. What organization provides Thanksgiving meals to those in need?
The Feeding NYC project provides free Thanksgiving meals to over 35,000 families in need.
8. What is a prominent event held during Thanksgiving in New York City?
New York City holds an annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with floats and balloons.
9. What is the significance of the President pardoning a turkey before Thanksgiving?
The tradition of the President pardoning a turkey symbolizes sparing the bird from being the
main dish at the Thanksgiving meal. This tradition promotes compassion.
10. How did the tradition of playing backyard football on Thanksgiving originate?
The tradition of playing backyard football games on Thanksgiving originated in the 19th century
as a popular way for families and friends to spend time together on the holiday.