• What is Thanksgiving?• History

– The first Thanksgiving

• Thanksgiving Traditions– The Thanksgiving meal– Giving thanks– Parades and other customs

ContentContent

What is Thanksgiving?What is Thanksgiving?

ThanksgivingThanksgiving is a traditional North American is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the end of the harvest holiday to give thanks at the end of the harvest season.season.

North Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by North Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by getting together with loved ones to give thanks getting together with loved ones to give thanks for the good things in life, such as prosperity, for the good things in life, such as prosperity, health, and the love of friends and family.health, and the love of friends and family.

What is Thanksgiving?What is Thanksgiving?

United StatesUnited States: 4th : 4th Thursday of November Thursday of November (November 26th)(November 26th)

CanadaCanada: 2nd Monday : 2nd Monday of October (October of October (October 12th)12th)

Canada and the United States celebrate Canada and the United States celebrate Thanksgiving on separate days.Thanksgiving on separate days.

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving On Thanksgiving, On Thanksgiving,

Americans remember Americans remember the difficulties that the the difficulties that the Pilgrims faced when Pilgrims faced when they first arrived in the they first arrived in the North AmericaNorth America

The PilgrimsThe Pilgrims: A group : A group of English Puritans that of English Puritans that traveled to the New traveled to the New World to find religious World to find religious freedomfreedom

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving

September 1620: The September 1620: The Pilgrims set sail from Pilgrims set sail from Holland to the New World Holland to the New World in a ship called in a ship called The The MayflowerMayflower..

There were 120 There were 120 passengers.passengers.

The trip lasted 65 days.The trip lasted 65 days.

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving

November 1620: The November 1620: The Pilgrims landed in Pilgrims landed in MassachusettsMassachusetts..

They named their They named their settlement settlement PlymouthPlymouth..

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims struggled to survive during their The Pilgrims struggled to survive during their first winter. The weather was cold and they first winter. The weather was cold and they didn´t have enough food to eat.didn´t have enough food to eat.

Many died from pneumonia and typhus.Many died from pneumonia and typhus.

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving

March 1621: The March 1621: The local Native local Native Americans, the Americans, the PatuxetsPatuxets, decided , decided to help the Pilgrimsto help the Pilgrims

SquantoSquanto was an was an English speaking English speaking brave that taught brave that taught the Pilgrims how to the Pilgrims how to survive in the survive in the wildernesswilderness

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving

Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to:Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to:

Plant cropsPlant crops FishFish HuntHunt

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving

October 1621: October 1621: Thanks to SquantoThanks to Squanto´s help, the fall ´s help, the fall harvest was very harvest was very good. The Pilgrims good. The Pilgrims had extra food for had extra food for the winter.the winter.

The Pilgrims The Pilgrims celebrated their celebrated their good fortune with good fortune with the Patuxets.the Patuxets.

The History of ThanksgivingThe History of Thanksgiving The first Thanksgiving The first Thanksgiving

celebration lasted for celebration lasted for three days.three days.

Over 90 Patuxet Over 90 Patuxet Indians attended, Indians attended, including Squanto.including Squanto.

The Pilgrims and the The Pilgrims and the Patuxets feasted, Patuxets feasted, played skill games, played skill games, and gave thanks for and gave thanks for their friendship and their friendship and prosperity.prosperity.

Thanksgiving TodayThanksgiving Today Americans continue in this tradition today by Americans continue in this tradition today by

gathering together with family and friends. In gathering together with family and friends. In fact, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of fact, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year in the United States.the year in the United States.

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving Dinner Typical Thanksgiving dinner usually consists of:Typical Thanksgiving dinner usually consists of:

Roast turkeyRoast turkey

GravyGravy

StuffingStuffing

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving Dinner

Appetizers, etc.:Appetizers, etc.:

Deviled EggsDeviled Eggs

Shrimp CocktailShrimp Cocktail Fruit platesFruit plates

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving Dinner Vegetables, etc.:Vegetables, etc.:

CornCorn Cranberry SauceCranberry Sauce Mashed potatoesMashed potatoes

Sweet potatoesSweet potatoes Green Bean CasseroleGreen Bean Casserole NutsNuts

Thanksgiving DinnerThanksgiving Dinner Dessert:Dessert:

Pumpkin PiePumpkin Pie

Apple PieApple Pie

Apple CrispsApple Crisps

Giving ThanksGiving Thanks Before eating Thanksgiving dinner, many families Before eating Thanksgiving dinner, many families

give thanks for the good things in life.give thanks for the good things in life. Usually, each member of the family shares what he or Usually, each member of the family shares what he or

she is grateful for.she is grateful for. ¨This year, I am thankful for my good health¨¨This year, I am thankful for my good health¨ ¨This year, I am thankful to be living back at home¨¨This year, I am thankful to be living back at home¨

Other Traditions: Macy´s Day ParadeOther Traditions: Macy´s Day Parade Every Thanksgiving morning, Every Thanksgiving morning,

Macy´s (a department store in the Macy´s (a department store in the United States) puts on a three hour United States) puts on a three hour long parade in New York City.long parade in New York City.

This tradition began in 1924 when This tradition began in 1924 when European immigrants working in European immigrants working in Macy´s Manhattan store wanted to Macy´s Manhattan store wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving in a public celebrate Thanksgiving in a public (and more European) way. (and more European) way.

Other Traditions: Macy´s Day ParadeOther Traditions: Macy´s Day Parade Today, the parade runs from Central Today, the parade runs from Central

Park to Time´s Square.Park to Time´s Square. The parade is televised across the The parade is televised across the

United States.United States. The parade includes marching bands, The parade includes marching bands,

celebrity performers, Broadway celebrity performers, Broadway singers, dance groups, floats, and giant singers, dance groups, floats, and giant helium balloons.helium balloons.

Over 300,000 people attend every yearOver 300,000 people attend every year

The end of the parade marks the start of the The end of the parade marks the start of the Christmas shopping season.Christmas shopping season.