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| | Thanksgiving Day is one of the most popular American holidays and is celebrated on fourth Thursday of November. Roots of this holiday lay deep in the American history to the very first English immigrants, who reached American coasts in 1620 on now widely known vessel "Mayflower ". They reached the coasts after heavy sailing through stormy ocean to present state Massachusetts on freezing November afternoon.
More than halve of over hundreds of pilgrims could not cope up with the severe winter and died due to hunger, cold and diseases. The survivors formed a colony and by spring started cultivation of land with the help of native Indians, who taught the survivors about the culture and cultivation on inhospitable rocky soil. Unexpectedly, the pilgrims were awarded with a good harvest for their efforts. First governor of the colonists Mr. W. Bradford suggested celebrating Thanksgiving Day in the honor of God. To the celebration in 1621’s autumn, pilgrims invited leader and 90 more Indians of same tribe, which helped the pilgrims survive in unknown conditions. This meal along with the Indians has become the first Thanksgiving celebration. Subsequently, colonists celebrated good harvest by Thanksgiving from time to time.
After conquering the American revolutionary war and formation of USA, first president of the country Mr. George Washington suggested celebrating the Thanksgiving Day as national holiday every year on November 26. В 1864 г. On completion of civil war, A. Lincoln declared that last Thursday of November of every year to be celebrated as Thanksgiving Day. From that time onwards, the day of holiday did not change.
Thanksgiving Day is full of traditions. Some generations of same family gather in the elder’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone gives thanks for all the good, which happened in their respective lives. On Thanksgiving Day, modern Americans eat the same kind of food, which was eaten by their ancestors’ way back in 1621 during the first Thanksgiving dinner. Many dishes have not only become part of tradition but also symbols of holiday: Stuffed turkey with cranberry jam and large sweet pie with a pumpkin stuffing. Bright young pumpkins, ears of “Indian" corn, apples, oranges, chestnuts, nuts, dry leaves and bunches of grapes, hanging down from dish as if from cornucopia, not only serve as traditional decoration of table but also personify abundance of autumn gifts of the nature.
Bouquets of gold, orange and red - brown chrysanthemums, added with berry twigs, complete the sensation of abundance and generosity of the nature, true holiday of a rich crop harvest.
Grandiose parade is organized in New York by largest departmental store in the world “Macy’s” from 1927. Its main attraction — large inflatable toy balloons (heroes of cartoon films, tales and on television), which pass from Central park upto the entrance of departmental store (between Seventh Avenue and Broadway).On the eve of parade, toys inflation ceremony takes place. In the evening, fire works are arranged on the straits of East-River. Parade, toy inflation process, fireworks are telecast live. |
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Thanksgiving is here!
Which means that it's that time of the year again when cooked turkeys and mashed potatoes will be eaten, just like the first settlers did many moons ago. Happy Thanksgiving, all! Gobble, Gobble!