Collection

Fact-Checking Thanksgiving Rumors: A Collection of Stories

When you really think about it, this holiday has accumulated a fascinating trove of traditions, not to mention tall tales.

Published Nov. 27, 2019

Updated Nov. 19, 2021
Shot of a group of people sitting together at a dining table ready to eat (Getty Images, stock)
Shot of a group of people sitting together at a dining table ready to eat (Image Via Getty Images, stock)

Imagine describing the United States' Thanksgiving tradition to someone who had just landed on Earth for the first time. It might go something like this:

Yeah, so somehow an embellished story about people wearing buckled shoes and eating got us a day off every year when we travel unusual distances to eat dry poultry and tough root vegetables (remind me to explain butter later) and spend time with relatives we chose not to live with. Then we watch a parade of giant balloons moving in slow motion on television before arguing with said relatives and passing out over one-too-many servings of pie. Oh, and we sometimes say we're thankful for stuff before we wake up and go shopping in the middle of the night. More pie?

Over the course of decades, Snopes has researched the origins of customs and stories surrounding the holiday, as well as the long-told myths, to help you celebrate with facts. Below is a compilation of that work.

Old roast turkey recipe calls for stuffing made with unpopped popcorn and is ready when the popcorn blows the ass off the turkey.
Read More
turkey sleepy thanksgiving
Read More
Thanksgiving stuffing
Read More
Painting, Art, Person
Read More
turkey presidential pardon
Read More
Family eating Thanksgiving dinner
Read More
Read More
turkey cooking thanksgiving child
Read More
Read More
turkey dinner apple pie and coffee candy corn
Read More
Read More
Woman listening to music in Christmas decorated room
Read More
Mom, you cooked a pregnant turkey!!!
Read More
cooking thanksgiving
Read More
Read More
Read More
Read More
Did President G.W. Bush pose with plastic Thanksgiving turkey while visiting troops in Baghdad?
Read More
Did Obama want executive order to change name of Thanksgiving Day to Celebrate Immigrants Day?
Read More
Read More
Read More
Did Sarah Palin really say 'Thanksgiving is for real Americans, not Indians'?
Read More
Read More
turkey neck prank
Read More

Updates

Updated 19 November 2021