THANGSKIVING

INTRODUCTION

Thanksgiving is a Christian holiday, celebrated in the United States (the fourth Thursday in November since 1941) and in Canada (the second Monday in October).

Historically, Canadians and Americans celebrate this holiday to thank God for the happiness it brings them. The origins of Thanksgiving are different in both countries. The celebration takes place with the family, with a meal usually consisting of a turkey, different mashed potatoes and pies.

In large cities, the day before Thanksgiving, a meal is distributed to the poorest people, the homeless.

In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday since 1863 (presidency of Abraham Lincoln). Thanksgiving is thought to have been first celebrated by British settlers from Plymouth in 1621.

1. THE ORIGINS

Thanksgiving is a day of thanksgiving and thanksgiving in memory of the first English settlers in the US, thank God for the good harvest and the Indians who helped them survive. Today this festival is secular.

At first, it was more of a harvest festival than anything else. Indeed, the first settlers arrived in 1620 on the Mayflower. The first winter was very rough and many died in the first year. The following year, in 1621, everything went well and they decided to make a thank-you party, the first "Thanksgiving".

In 1676, the Charlestown Council met to determine what was the best day of the year to celebrate this holiday. They then chose June 29th.

It was not until 1789 that it became a national holiday, under the leadership of George Washington.

You will tell me: but we are talking about the month of June when Thanksgiving is being celebrated in November! Well in fact, it was President Lincoln who proclaimed in 1863 that Thanksgiving should be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. Since then, the date has changed a few times as each president after him proclaimed the date he wanted, until 1941 when Franklin Roosevelt declared it "legal holiday". Since then, it is established that this festival will take place every year, the last Thursday of November.

1. THE SYMBOLS

In the first place, the turkey of course and the pumpkin cake. The traditional meal usually consists of roast turkey with cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie (pumpkin pie).

Every year, moreover, the president symbolically graces a turkey that day (what a funny idea!)

1. ACTIVITIES

This is a meal, family most of the time. Still, this is one of the most important holidays for Americans (if not the most important).

Since 1924, the Thanksgiving Parade has been held annually in New York by Macy's department stores. It is a parade with floats and balloons that lasts about 3 hours and is broadcast on television.