THANKSGIVING

Americans of all religions celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. Children do not go to school and most business close for four days.

http://www.healthtalktoday.net/category/holidays-and-events/thanksgiving

People in Canada also celebrate Thanksgiving, but they do it on the second Monday of October.

Why is Thanksgiving an important day?

On 6 September 1620, 102 men, women and children left Plymouth in south-west England on ship called the Mayflower.

http://www.southernlife.org.uk/mayflower.htm

The voyage was difficult. Some of them died. On 11 December 1620 they landed on the north-east coast of north America. They called this area Plymouth.

It was almost winter and there wasn’t much food. They built houses, but it was late to grow crops. The winter was long and cold and half of the Pilgrims died.

http://www.themeshack.net/wallpapers_archive1/holiday/thanksgiving/003.htm

In the spring a native American called Squanto helped the Pilgrims. Soon the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag native Americans became friends. The Pilgrims grew crops and the summer harvest was excellent.

http://www.firstthanksgivinggarden.com/article_01.htmlhttp://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/07/08/wampanoag_tribes_powwow_shows_extra_spirit_this_year/

William Bradford was the governor of the Pilgrims’ colony. He decided to celebrate with a dinner for the Pilgrims and about ninety native Americans. He wanted to thank god. This was the first Thanksgiving dinner, and it continued for three days.

A traditional Thanksgiving

Today the traditional Thanksgiving meal is similar to the first. People eat roast turkey with cranberry sauce, potatoes, corn and pumpkin pie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_England_Thanksgiving_Dinner.jpg

http://culturemob.com/thanksgiving-dinners-in-denver

Many charity organizations prepare a free meal for the poor people in their town or city.

http://www.painetworks.com/previews/je/je0977.html

New York City celebrates with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Amcy’s department store organised the first parade in 1924. this parade is very famous, and more than two million people go to see it every year.