Welcome to the world of gratitude, family and mind teasers! When those fall leaves begin to drop, we know we’re in for that heartwarming and stomach-stuffing holiday of Thanksgiving. Our big collection of free Thanksgiving puzzles is a great way to make your holiday even more special. In other words, get ready to add a side of brainpower to your holiday celebrations!
1. What is Thanksgiving?
But, a possible answer to the puzzles and a good deal more — something about sharing the joy of thankfulness with your loved ones. Something that some people think it would be nice to know about.
There is a special holiday in the USA on the last Thursday of November. Our neighbors to the north celebrate it on the second Monday in October. A whole day spent with people you love and incredible food.
Meanwhile, the usual spread is turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. After all, the best part involves giving thanks for whatever good things happen to us: our health, our home, our family.
The American story of Thanksgiving dates far, far back to 1621. The Pilgrims were a sect of people who made the journey on the boat Mayflower across the sea to America. Daly told us that their first winter, they had barely anything to eat. They had a lot of help from the people who were already living there, the Wampanoag.
The Pilgrims were taught to cultivate corn and other grains, such as staple foods, by the Waumpoag. Then the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims had a bountiful harvest. They had a giant feast for three days with all this food and became friends.
After other things changed, too. For years, it became the norm to have a big harvest feast in the fall. But in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation. He thought that would help bring the country together.
Martin has been updated for today. Now we celebrate Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks and be with loved ones. It’s when we get to cheer about the food we’re eating with our friends. The wonderful things that are happening in life, and all the happy things. We can also join in fun events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, football games, and helping others.
More Puzzles Collection: Fall Puzzles | Spring Word Puzzles | Animal Puzzles | Disney Puzzles | Halloween Puzzles
2. Types of Thanksgiving Puzzles
The world of Thanksgiving puzzles runs the gamut just like a big dinner with the family! We made sure our collection of free Thanksgiving puzzles has something for every age and interest. This way, everyone can enjoy themselves with puzzle games.
Brainy Holiday Riddles & Autumn Teasers
One of my favorite parts, ever, because it’s so fun to do together. Our festive holiday riddles and autumn brain teasers are perfect for a seasonal family gathering. They’re all brief and funny and can bring a smile to everyone’s face.
I like to print these out, cut them up, and throw the strips in a small jar on the dinner table. Just read them loud and the one who gets the answer first wins.
Example Riddle: What’s the key that locks up but doesn’t lock down and has legs? (A turkey!)
Turkey Crossword & Harvest Crossword
A Thanksgiving crossword puzzle is a classic for good reason. Our puzzle has more words on all your favorite Thanksgiving words and foods. You can find a classic turkey crossword, a harvest crossword with tasty foods, or puzzles about the first Thanksgiving. They’ll help you see what you know — and learn some new words.
Holiday Word Search & Christmas Brain Puzzles
Who doesn’t love a word search, after all? Our holiday word search puzzles are a great, relaxing and enjoyable activity for everyone. I believe they are the ideal quiet after-dinner task, once everyone is full and happy.
We have simple ones with big letters for the little guys. We’ve also got more challenging brain teasers by season, with longer words for older kids and adults.
Pilgrim Puzzles & Food-Themed Puzzles
For a touch of history, our pilgrim puzzles are the right pick. The story of the first Thanksgiving inspires these puzzles. And artists often decorate them with pictures of Pilgrims and Native Americans. They’re a perfect introduction to discussing the history of the holiday.
For the family foodie, our food-themed puzzles are a delicious delight. You’ll find puzzles all about your favorite Thanksgiving foods, from turkey and stuffing to cranberries and pumpkin pie.
Thanksgiving Trivia & Family Fun Activity Games
Ready to challenge what you think? Our Thanksgiving trivia games are a fun way to test what you know about the holiday. I’ve found that making a team game is a huge hit. The kids can play against the grown-ups or create random teams.
It’s a fun way to find out who is the most Thanksgiving-savvy. These family games are ideal group activities and great for Christmas.
3. Good Things About Thanksgiving Puzzles
I used to think puzzles were just something to keep my kids busy while I made dinner. Only I’ve found that these humble sheets are packed with life-enhancing virtues.
Improves Memory and Problem-Solving
A puzzle is a mental exercise. When you solve a puzzle or uncover a secret word, you make your brain work a little harder and remember a little more.
Screen-Free Holiday Treat For Fun
Among its many screens, Thanksgiving puzzles are as strong and fun a choice as anything these days. All of them are free, simple ways to group up and have some fun while you get your family talking and playing.
Should You Work Together?
Puzzles make the perfect group activity. A game you can play together, like Trivial Pursuit or a crossword, will get you talking and collaborating. It’s a great way for people of all generations—kids and grandparents—to enjoy playing together.
An Enjoyable Way to Study
Don’t let the kids know, because these Thanksgiving puzzles are pretty educational! They’re a fun way for kids to learn a little bit of history. Practice their spelling and new words, and get thinking about being grateful.
4. Fun Ways to Use Thanksgiving Puzzles
Aside from being a mere paper, a puzzle in print is really a lot of fun! And there are various ways you can encourage your kids to use their free Thanksgiving printables for kids more creatively.
If you haven’t planned The Stats’ Family Thanksgiving Day yet, this is one of our favorite traditions! Before they are done with the meal, maybe endless puzzles and the table have a stack of them.
For school: My fellow educators, Thanksgiving puzzles are like manna to casual learners in school! These are a fun holiday worksheet, a great activity for a classroom party. Or they can be an easy choice when children finish their work early.
For Family Game Nights: So, a puzzle was the featured game for a vintage Thanksgiving-themed game night. Having everyone try multiple tables in different forms of puzzles is a fun challenge.
Use as a motivational tool: Make any friendly competition even better with a prize when it’s claimed. That’s exactly what I had in store for you today. You could even have a little prize (a piece of candy, say, or the first slice of pie) for the person who completes their word search first.
5. Fun Facts about Thanksgiving
To make your puzzle time even more interesting, here are a few fun facts you can share!
- The first Thanksgiving party in 1621 lasted for three whole days!
- Every Thanksgiving, people in the United States eat about 46 million turkeys.
- President Abraham Lincoln was the one who made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
- The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City started in 1924. At first, it had live animals from the zoo instead of the giant balloons we see today.
- Watching football on Thanksgiving started with college games a very long time ago, in 1876.
- People think that pumpkin pie is one of the most popular Thanksgiving desserts.
- Many families help out at food banks on Thanksgiving to help people who need it.
Wrapping Up the Puzzle Party
The simple joy of sitting down with a fun puzzle is a great way to slow down and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Our collection of fun Thanksgiving puzzles is free, fun, and easy for families and teachers. Download, print, and share your favorite Thanksgiving puzzles this season, and add a new tradition to your holiday fun!