THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is a special festival for Americans, it is a family holiday: families always have big dinners and happy reunions. On this day American people thank God for what they have.

In Autumn, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

The first Thanksgiving day dates back to 1621. The Pilgrim Fathers had previously left Britain due to religious persecutions. When they arrived in North America, they weren’t ready to cope with the harsh conditions of the cold winter. The Native Americans helped, giving them food. Indians and Pilgrim Fathers celebrated the first Thanksgivings together: these were harvest festivals, occasions for thanking God for plentiful crops (the cornucopia is one of the symbols of Thanksgiving, it suggests abundance).

POULTRY: turkey, goose, duck, partridge, chicken; OTHER MEAT: deer 
FRUIT: raspberries, strawberries, grapes, plums, cherries, blueberries and cranberry sauce
VEGETABLES: peas, pumpkin (pumpkin pie), beans, onions, carrots and corn on the cob
FISH: such as clams, lobster, mussels, cod, sea-bass, herring and eel.
An assortment of NUTS like walnuts and chestnuts. Delicious Thanksgiving food!!!

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS and FUN!

True or false?

1. Thanksgiving is a family holiday T F

2. American families only sometimes celebrate it T F

3. Thanksgiving is celebrated in December T F

4. The first Thanksgiving was in the 17^th century T F

5. The Pilgrim Fathers came from France T F

6. The Indians helped them during their first harsh winter T F

7. The Pilgrim Fathers did not feast with the Indians T F

8. The first Thanksgiving was a religious festival T F

9. One of the symbols of Thanksgiving is the cornucopia T F

10. The traditional menu includes meat, fruit and vegetables T F