Every autumn, Canadian and American families gather for a

day centred around community, food and giving thanks – the day
of Thanksgiving. Wh ere did this holiday come from and how is it
celebrated today?

BEFORE READING
Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the
exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… a pilgrim a. not connected to religion
2. …… a settler b. a large meal
3. …… a harvest c. a religious traveller
4. …… a feast d. being thankful
5. …… secular e. a decision that allows someone to go free
6. …… light-hearted f. amusing and cheerful; not serious
7. …… a pardon g. when food is collected from fields and
gardens
8. …… gratitude h. someone who moves to another region or
country, starting a new home and life
 Thanksgivi
ng

The history of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving combines the traditions of different groups of people.

Travellers and migrants brought different religious traditions from
Europe to the United States and Canada. Several celebrations are claimed
as the first Thanksgiving. The best known is the celebration held by the
pilgrims in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts after their journey
across the Atlantic Ocean on the famous Mayflower ship. Like the
pilgrims, many groups held days of prayer, fasting or feasting to give
thanks for successfully making the long boat journey. Later, settlers
celebrated their successful harvest in a new land by holding feasts with
their Native American neighbours. Over time, the Canadian and
American traditions have become similar and developed into the modern
holiday of Thanksgiving.
 Thanksgiving today

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in

October. In the United States, it is on the fourth Thursday in November.
Although its origins are religious, today, Thanksgiving is a largely
secular holiday. For most Americans and Canadians, it is a day for
coming together with family and friends to share a large meal. It is an
occasion to spend time with loved ones and express gratitude for the
year that has passed. In many households there is a tradition of
everyone seated at the table sharing what they are most grateful for.

Thanksgiving food

Thanksgiving is also about food. Thanksgiving dinner traditionally

includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and, for
dessert, apple, pumpkin or pecan pies. Every family has its own recipes,
sometimes secret recipes handed down through generations. Turkey, a
bird native to North America, is the unofficial mascot of Thanksgiving,
with roast turkey on the menu and turkey decorations on the wall. In the
United States, a tradition of gifting turkeys to the President has more
recently evolved into a humorous turkey ‘pardoning’. At this light-
hearted ceremony, the President issues an official pardon for one or two
turkeys, saving them from being cooked for supper.
 More than food: football, parades and traffic jams!

Beyond food and gratitude, there are some unexpected sides to the
American and Canadian holiday. One of these is football. This popular
sport is an important part of the holiday, when families gather around
to cheer on local or national teams. American football and Canadian
football are both similar to rugby, played primarily not with the feet but
with the hands.
Parades are another common part of the festivities. In the United
States, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York
City on the morning of Thanksgiving. It’s one of the world’s largest
parades and is broadcast nationwide. A similar Thanksgiving parade
happens in Canada as part of the Kitchener – Waterloo Oktoberfest, a
multi-day autumn festival.
Unfortunately, heavy traffic is also common at Thanksgiving. In
both countries, the week of Thanksgiving is one of the most popular
travel times of the year, as everyone heads home to visit their extended
family. So try to avoid any road trips if you’re visiting North America
during this holiday!
 Tasks
sentences true or false?

Task 1. Are the

Answer
1. Thanksgiving was originally celebrated True False
by European settlers in North America.
2. At many Thanksgiving celebrations, True False
everyone tells the group what they are
most thankful for.
3. Modern-day Thanksgiving celebrations True False
are very religious.
4. The main part of Thanksgiving is the True False
preparation and sharing of a big meal.
5. Only Americans play and watch football True False
during Thanksgiving.
6. The American President kills two turkeys True False
every year.

Task 2. Complete the sentences with words from the box.

feast gratitude light-hearted

pardon secular settlers
1. New ……………………………… from Europe brought religious
traditions with them to North America.
2. Even though the first Thanksgiving celebrations were days of
prayer, the modern holiday is largely ……………………………… .
3. A roast turkey is the centrepiece of the big Thanksgiving
……………………………… .
4. Modern Thanksgiving is a ………………………………, fun holiday
full of activities like football and parades.
5. The American President saves some turkeys from being feasted
on by issuing a presidential ……………………………… .
6. More than just food and fun, Thanksgiving is about
……………………………… and reflecting on a successful year.
 Task 3. Explain the given words in English.

migrant ceremony heavy

traffic

centrepiece
mascot parade generation

Task 4. Give synonyms to these words.

Discussion

1. When do families gather to have a feast in your country?

2. Why do you think people celebrate Thanksgiving Day?
3. What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
4. What are some of the things you are thankful for?
 $høøN$gÁlÁøg Q# te$
g is very important, while 70% of Americans think Thanksgiving is a holiday to spend time with fami

—
 —

Discussion

1. What quote do you like most of all?

2. How did these quotes make you feel?
3. What do you think about Oprah Winfrey’s saying?
4. Do you agree or disagree with these quotes?

I agree I think
I disagree

In my opinion To my mind
 $høøN$gÁlÁøg ø rd$ øød phrø$e$

Definition 1: A large amount of something.

Example: There was a cornucopia of pies at
the dessert table.
Definition 2: A horn-shaped basket that is
filled with fruits, vegetables, and nuts; this
has become a symbol of Thanksgiving.
Example: Thanksgiving table with the
same cornucopia since I was a child.

Definition: A large meal.

Example: We had such a feast this year! I am so full!

Definition: 1. to eat something in its entirety very

quickly and eagerly;
2. to use, buy, or occupy all of something.
Example: 1. The delicious food served on
Thanksgiving was gobbled up immediately.
2. American shoppers gobbled
up electronics in the stores the day
after Thanksgiving.
Definition: to do something completely and suddenly.
Example: Frank gave up smoking cold turkey.

Definition: The feeling after eating a lot of food.

Example: I can’t eat any more. I am stuffed.

Definition: The u-shaped bone in the middle of a

turkey or chicken breast; families often have a
tradition of having two people hold each side of the
bone, make a wish, and pull. Tradition says that the
wish of the person who gets the larger bone will
come true.
Example: Who is going to break the wishbone with me
this year?

Definition: Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth

Thursday of November, and the next day is known
as Black Friday. Shops around the world reduce the
prices of goods to attract customers. It also
signifies the beginning of Christmas shopping.

Example: I plan to buy those shoes and that coat

on Black Friday. It’s an excellent opportunity to buy
good things at an affordable price.
Definition: a fun long-distance run or race in a
turkey costume held on or around Thanksgiving Day
in the US.

Example: Are you going to participate in the Turkey

Trot this year?

Definition: the combination of the words “tofu”

and “turkey,” i.e., a vegetarian version of turkey
usually made from tofu (soybean protein) or
seitan (wheat protein) with a stuffing made from
grains or bread.

Example: My friends are vegetarians, so instead

of turkey, they eat tofurkey on Thanksgiving.

Definition: a state of drowsiness after eating a

large quantity of food.

Example: We just fell into a food coma after

gobbling up all the meals.
 $høøN$gÁlÁøgCr $$ørd

1 2 Across
3 4 5 The month of Thanksgiving.
5
6 A large orange vegetable.
6
7 Have a of
pumpkin pie for desert.
7 8
10 the table before
9 dinner.
11 A festival with bands, people
10 11
wearing costumes, and floats
marching down the street.
12 13
12 Families
14 together on Thanksgiving.
15 14 A yellow vegetable that was
grown by Native Americans.
16 17
16 A long journey over the ocean.
18 Another way to say for
thankful.
18 19 20
21 A place where things are
21 baked.
22 The people on board the
22
Mayflower.

23
23 A large bird eaten on
Thanksgiving.

Down
1 The evening meal. 10 Something cooked inside
2 Use a knife to a the turkey and served at
turkey. dinner.

3 An odd shaped vegetable 12 A sauce that is poured over

that resembles a pumpkin. the turkey.

4 a pie in the 13 Gather the crops.

oven. 15 The ship that pilgrims came
8 Americans to America on.
Thanksgiving in the 17 thanks for the
Autumn. food we eat.
9 a turkey in the 19 The nut of an oak tree.
oven. 20 A large dinner celebration.
 $høøN$gÁlÁøg ø rd$eør#h

Atlantic Ocean feast pilgrim

bake freedom of religion pumpkin pie
carve get together roast
colony gravy squash
corn on the cob mashed potatoes Thanksgiving
cornucopia Mayflower turkey
England North America voyage
 Thanks for the fire, Thanks for the stars,
That keeps me warm. And the sun and the moon.
Thanks for my family, Thanks for the snow,
Keep them from harm. That’s coming here soon.

Thanks for the corn,

Thanks for the rivers,
Cobs stacked in a heap,
The lakes and the seas.
Thanks for the squash,
Thanks for the mountains.
And the crops that we reap.
Covered in trees.

Thanks for the grains,

Thanks for all life.
They’ll feed us till spring.
And last, but not least,
Thanks for the cows,
Thanks for the turkey
And the milk that they bring.
We’ll have at our feast.

Dramatize the poem using your imagination. Possible characters:

Queen Indian pirate pilgrim

shark whale turkey

Write a paragraph or a poem

on what you are thankful for.
 @Á$teøÁøg
(Listen and fill in)

1. Pilgrims came from

2. The name of the
…………………………. ship
(country) ………………………….

3. They sailed across the 4. They sailed for

…ocean. …days.

5. They landed on 6. The

the coast of North Wampanoag were
…………………… ……………………

7. The first winter was 8. In the spring they

…………………… ……………………

9. In the autumn they

…………………… 10. Thanksgiving in
the USA is on
……………………

11. Thanksgiving in
12. Thanksgiving
Canada is
food
on……………………
………………………..
1. When is Thanksgiving celebrated in the USAẹ
2. When was the first Thanksgiving celebratedẹ
3. What was the name of the Pilgrim’s shipẹ
4. How did the Native Americans help the Pilgrimsẹ
5. Why did the Pilgrims celebrate a feast and
invite the Native Americansẹ
6. Why do people celebrate Thanksgiving nowadaysẹ
7. Who do people celebrate Thanksgiving withẹ
8. What is the most important food on
a Thanksgiving tableẹ
Dear ĩom.
Our voyage was difficult
 $høøN$gÁlÁøg mÁøÁ te$t
1. Thanksgiving is a ... holiday.
a. North American
b. South American
c. UK
2. When is Thanksgiving celebrated?
a. On the fourth Thursday in November
b. On the third Wednesday in November
c. On the third Friday in November
3. What is the main meat dish on Thanksgiving Day?
a. A chicken.
b. A duck.
c. A turkey
4. What is the synonym for the word ‘feast’?
a. A large meal
b. Entertainment
c. Advertisement
5. In Canada it is celebrated in ...
a. December
b. November
c. October
6. Thanksgiving is a/an ... festival.
a. scary
b. autumn
c. long
7. People usually spend Thanksgiving with...
a. relatives
b. neighbors
c. strangers
8. For dessert there is a/an...
a. orange pie
b. pumpkin pie
c. cherry pie
9. What is the day after Thanksgiving known as?
a. Fat Friday
b. Wampanoag Day
c. Black Friday
10. What was the name of the ship that transported the pilgrims?
a. Santa Marie
b. Pinta
c. Mayflower
11. What is the meaning of cornucopia?
a. God of corn
b. Horn of plenty
c. Plenty of corn