THANKSGIVING

DATE: Fourth Thursday in November

ORIGINS
The first American Thanksgiving was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. The people of Plymouth had come to America from England in 1620. In their native land they had been called Puritans because they wished to "purify" the Church of England. In England, Puritans were often prevented from expressing their ideas. Finally, in 1620, a small group of them, on a ship called The Mayflower , set sail for America. This group called themselves Pilgrims because of their wanderings in search of religious freedom. Their voyage of over sixty days was very rough and many passengers died on the ship.

Besides, the Pilgrims were poorly trained and poorly equipped to cope with life in the wilderness. During their first winter in the new land, they suffered a great deal. Scarce food, hard work, and bitterly cold weather killed almost half of them. Luckily for the Pilgrims, some Indian neighbors came to the rescue. The Indians taught the Pilgrims how to hunt, fish, and grow native food such as corn, pumpkins, and beans.

Because of this help, the Pilgrims had a good harvest that year. Therefore, in early autumn, Governor William Bradford found it appropriate to thank God for the plentiful crops by arranging a special celebration. He then invited the Indian friends to share the Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving Day was officially declared a national holiday in the U.S. in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.

CELEBRATION IN THE U.S.

On this day, Americans give thanks for the blessings they have enjoyed during the year. Thanksgiving is usually a family day, celebrated with big dinners and happy reunions. The modern Thanksgiving turkey is much like the ones that were hunted in the forests around Plymouth. Squash and corn, which were also harvested by the early Pilgrims, appear on the Thanksgiving table. Pumpkin pie and Indian pudding (a custard made from corn) are traditional Thanksgiving desserts. The first Thanksgiving lasted three days. Today, for many Americans, it is a four-day holiday. Relatives from other cities and students who have been away at school travel long distances to spend the holiday at home.