Thanksgiving Topics for Your Table

Thanksgiving is unique among all of the holidays we celebrate in our country.  Those who believe in God’s providential role and countless spiritual and material blessings realize that we ultimately owe our thanksgiving to Him.  Granted, we ought to thank one another for acts of kindness.  But because we are stewards of God’s blessings, even the grace that inspires us to do kind acts is from God.  Therefore, thanksgiving is incomplete unless we humbly offer it in worship and praise to God Who alone is the Giver of every perfect gift that comes down from above (James 1: 17).

If you and your loved ones are seeking ways to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in a meaningful way that acknowledges American history and God’s providential role in it, consider using a series of questions that may pique the interest of both young and old.  Here’s how I hope this exercise will work in our family.

Write or print the following questions on numbered cards or paper.  (Or, you can simply print the questions on one sheet of paper and have someone be the questioner.)  Choose a time to sit together, distribute the questions, and take turns in the order of the number assigned to each question.   Allow time for anyone to answer and be alert to opportunities for discussion.  Answers?  If you don’t know them, why not search for them online, but be sure to double-check your sources for accuracy.

1.      What was the name of the ship on which the Pilgrims sailed to North America?

2.      How did the tradition of having turkey on Thanksgiving begin?

3.      How many different American Thanksgiving traditions can you name? [See how long you can keep it going around the table or group.]

4.      Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?

5.      Why did the Pilgrims dress in dark, drab clothing?  [Suggestion: Pause for answers.  Then, ask if this stereotype is true.  See photos.]

6.      Which of the following is true of the Thanksgiving celebration by the Pilgrims, in 1621?
a.   Celebrating thanksgiving for the harvest was a tradition they brought from Europe.

b.   Their Native American friends (the Wampanoag’s) also had a Thanksgiving tradition.
c.    On their “First Thanksgiving” at Plymouth, 53 Pilgrims were joined by 90 Native Americans.
d.    At the time, numerous cultures in the world already practiced Thanksgiving celebrations.
e.    All of the above are true.

7.   Why did the Pilgrims decide to leave England?

      8.   Where did the Pilgrims land on their voyage from England?

      9.   What are the names of the two turkeys pardoned this year by President Trump?
10. Which president of the United States began the tradition of pardoning turkeys, and why?
11. Why did the Pilgrims leave their home and their work to come to North America?
12. Why did the Pilgrims land on Cape Cod when they had aimed for the mouth of the Hudson R?
13. In the Book of Genesis, who did God providentially send to Egypt as a slave so that his family
             and the whole nation of Egypt could be saved from famine?
14. In the Pilgrim story, who did God providentially send to help them survive in the new world?
15. Can you name other people in history whom God sent to intercede and deliver His people? Hint: One was a queen.  Another is mentioned in Isaiah 7: 14 and Matthew 1: 21. 
16. What are you thankful for as you remember the events of your life in 2018?

Additional Questions: (Select to fit age/maturity):
Although our culture is very different from 1620, does our celebration of Thanksgiving retain the purposes of the Pilgrims?

The Pilgrims believed that it was very important for each individual to love and honor their parents, family, and church.   Children and young adults learned that it was very important to make choices that honored their family and community.  Has culture in America become different from this, and if so how?  If today’s culture is different, do you think it is for the better?

Why are the Pilgrims called “separatists?”  How did their approach to living differ from the Puritans? Which if either is more in line with your beliefs about how we should live in our culture today?

Suggested Reading:

Read an account of how Squanto was strategically or (arguably) providentially prepared to assist the Pilgrims in ways that enabled them to survive in “New England.”  I recommend Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas. 2012 (Thomas Nelson), a very readable and well illustrated book for children and adults.

Quiz in PDF Format:  Available upon request to silviusj@gmail.com