Thursday, July 9, 2015

THANKSGIVING DAY by: Luz Maria and Alvaro




THANKSGIVING DAY
Thanksgiving is a traditional celebration in the United States and Canada. This holiday has its origin in a mixture of European and Aboriginal tradition. Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock- U.S. On December of 1620. The first winter was very hard for them, but the following fall, they obtained a good harvest of the seeds they planted. They decided to celebrate with a big dinner including aborigines who helped them to survive during the first year.






George Washington, the first US president, declared the first Thanksgiving on February 19, 1795. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln chose October 3rd as a day of reflection and thanksgiving. In 1941, Theodore Roosevelt, the president in this period, changed the Thanksgiving date to the fourth Thursday in November. This is still the date when this holiday is celebrated. Meanwhile, in Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated during the second Monday in October. Both, the U.S and Canada celebrate it in family. Although it is religious in origin, it is considered a secular holiday.
 

Over the years, the tradition of celebrating this day has become more popular in the United States and Canada; it is a day to gather with family, friends, and share a feast where the menu consists of traditional roast turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans, glazed carrots, rolls and pumpkin pie. The most important thing in the Thanksgiving, as its name suggests, is to thank. People are grateful for being accompanied by their loved ones once a year. Thus, many families give thanks by means blessing before meals and solidarity acts; such as, voluntary donations to provide support to the needy.


No comments:

Post a Comment