History thanksgiving

Even if people live far away from home, the family members gather at the house of an older relative.

This is Thanksgiving Day.

In the year 1620, a ship named the Mayflower brought 102 English men, women and children to the rocky coast of what is now Massachusetts.

The ship's passengers were Puritans—members of a religious sect which was unpopular in Britain because its members wanted to reform the Church of England.

It was late in the year when the Pilgrims landed and founded the colony they called Plymouth.

The winter was cold, and about half of the Pilgrims died. In the spring the Indians taught the Pilgrims to plant corn, hunt, and fish.

In October 1621, to celebrate the good harvest, the Pilgrims held a feast.

They cooked dinner of turkey, corn, beans, and pumpkins and invited their Indians friends to share their feast.

For three days they thanked their God for their good harvest and their happy year in a new country.

Pumpkin pie is the most popular dessert.

Turkey with stuffing is the main dish.

The horn of plenty is a familiar Thanksgiving symbol. It’s also a popular decoration.

it also has such national entertainment as a Thanksgiving Day Parade ,

and a professional football game broadcast on TV .

The famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is part of the traditional celebration.

Millions of people watch it on TV every year.

Santa Claus arrives at the end. His coming marks the beginning of the Christmas season .

Thanksgiving Day is a time for tradition and sharing.

This is a day on which Charitable organizations and churches provide food or serve dinners for the poor. They also send baskets of food to the elderly and sick.

There is one more tradition for that day.

President pardons a turkey for Thanksgiving.

A lucky turkey is set free and later sent

to a petting zoo.

Here is a tradition of sending and getting greeting cards for the holiday.

Answer the questions: 1. What was the name of the ship? 2. Who were the Puritans? 3. What did the Pilgrims sail from England for? 4. How long did it take them to cross the Atlantic Ocean? 5.What did the Native Indians teach the Pilgrims? 6. Why did the Pilgrims invite their Indian friends for the feast?  7. When was the first Thanksgiving Day celebrated? 8. When do the people celebrate this holiday nowadays? 9 . What is the traditional food of Thanksgiving Day? 10. Why is the turkey a symbol of Thanksgiving Day?