History of Thanksgiving

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History of ThanksgivingHistory of ThanksgivingHistory of ThanksgivingHistory of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United

States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on

the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth

Thursday of November in the United States. Prayers of thanks

and special thanksgiving ceremonies are part of Thanksgiving

ceremonies.

An autumn harvest feast by the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians in

1621 is known as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations. In 1863, President

Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day to be held on the last

Thursday of November.

It all started in September 1620 when a small ship called the Mayflower left England,

carrying 102 passengers. With great hardships, the Mayflower reached Plymouth in

Massachusetts, USA where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began

the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

After arriving in Plymouth in 1620, the Pilgrims had undergone sufferings but had

managed to survive, in a large part due to the help of Squanto, an Indian who

taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in

the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. At the end of their first year, the Pilgrims held

a Thanksgiving feast, celebrating the fruits of their farming efforts and to honour

Squanto and their friends, the Wampanoag Indians.

The first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated by the explorer, Martin Frobisher,

who in 1578 held a feast in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving an attempt to


search for a Northwest Passage to the Pacific. Various Thanksgiving celebrations

were declared to celebrate special events until 1879, when it became an annual

holiday. The date changed several times until Parliament declared the second

Monday in October the Thanksgiving holiday in 1957.

Although, England has a long history of various harvest festivals but, there is no

holiday and special Thanksgiving celebration in England.

Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Germany, Japan, Liberia, Grenada, The

Netherlands and Norfolk Island, but on different dates either in the month of

October or November.

Thanksgiving is celebrated with family and friends. Thanksgiving is also a holiday to

express thanks to God, friends and family for the blessings of the previous year. The

celebrations include prayers and special meal. Thanksgiving food includes - turkey,

mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Parades have also become

an integral part of the holiday in cities and towns across the United States.

Every year, the President of the United States will "pardon" a turkey, which spares

the bird's life and ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on

farmland.


History of Thanksgiving

1. When is Thanksgiving celebrated in United States?

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2. When is Thanksgiving celebrated in Canada?

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3. When the first Thanksgiving celebration took place?

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4. What was the name of the ship carrying passengers from England?

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5. Who was Squanto?

_________________________________________________________________________

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6. Why Pilgrims started celebrating Thanksgiving?

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7. Who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in Canada and when?

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8. Is there a holiday on Thanksgiving in England?

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9. Does any other country celebrate Thanksgiving?

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10. How is Thanksgiving celebrated?

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Vocabulary Activity

Write the synonyms for the vocabulary words from the article.

1. Primarily ____________________

2. Celebration ____________________

3. Each ____________________

4. Special ____________________

5. Start ____________________

6. Small ____________________

7. Hardships ____________________

8. Include ____________________

9. Ceremony ____________________

10. Previous ____________________

Write the antonyms for the vocabulary words from the article.

1. Part ____________________

2. First ____________________

3. Start ____________________

4. Day ____________________

5. Left ____________________

6. Small ____________________

7. Different ____________________

8. Long ____________________

9. Previous ____________________

10. Freely ____________________


History of Thanksgiving – ANSWER KEY

1. When is Thanksgiving celebrated in United States?

Thanksgiving is celebrated in United States each year on the fourth Thursday

of November.

2. When is Thanksgiving celebrated in Canada?

Thanksgiving is celebrated in Canada each year on the second Monday of

October.

3. When the first Thanksgiving celebration took place?

The first Thanksgiving celebration took place in 1621.

4. What was the name of the ship carrying passengers from England?

The name of the ship carrying passengers from England was Mayflower.

5. Who was Squanto?

Squanto was an Indian who taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn, extract

sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants.

6. Why Pilgrims started celebrating Thanksgiving?

Pilgrims started celebrating Thanksgiving to enjoy good harvest and to

honour Squanto and their friends, the Wampanoag Indians.

7. Who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in Canada and when?

The first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated by the explorer, Martin

Frobisher in 1578.

8. Is there a holiday on Thanksgiving in England?

No, there is no holiday on Thanksgiving in England.

9. Does any other country celebrate Thanksgiving?

Yes, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Grenada, The Netherlands and Norfolk Island

celebrate Thanksgiving.

10. How is Thanksgiving celebrated?

Thanksgiving is celebrations include prayers and special meal. The food

includes - turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.


Vocabulary Activity – ANSWER KEY

Write the synonyms for the vocabulary words from the article.

1. Primarily Mainly

2. Celebration Festival

3. Each Every

4. Special Extraordinary

5. Start Began

6. Small Tiny

7. Hardships Sufferings

8. Include Contain

9. Ceremony Ritual

10. Previous Earlier

Write the antonyms for the vocabulary words from the article.

1. Part Whole

2. First Last

3. Start End

4. Day Night

5. Left Right

6. Small Big

7. Different Similar

8. Long Short

9. Previous Later

10. Freely Bound

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History of Thanksgiving