Thanksgiving

The First American Holiday

The Pilgrims came from England to America.
They sailed on the Mayflower.
They searched for religious freedom.
In those days food was scarce.
However, the Indians helped the settlers in the cold Winter months. In Spring they planted corn, squash and other vegetables.
The first harvest was better than expected and the Pilgrims were extremely thankful.
To celebrate and to thank the Indians for their help and friendship, there was a feast on the fourth Thursday of November.
This celebration became a tradition.
Today people throughout the United States celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.
The whole family gathers for a traditional dinner with roast turkey and stuffing, yams, squash, pumpkin and other vegetables.
Friends are invited to join this special day of thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day Parade

America's preeminent 'Thanksgiving Parade' is an important tradition. It was first held in the year 1924 in Detroit down to Woodward Avenue. The parade began on a very small scale, its popularity grew with each passing year, and after almost 24 years of the parade tradition, it was televised locally in 1948. Fours years later in 1952 the parade received national coverage.

The Parade is famously known for its policy of going on under any circumstance or condition; be it rain or shine. The most bittersweet year of the Parade was 1963, which was held less than a week after President Kennedy's assassination, the country was still in mourning. But, as they say 'The show must go on', the parade was held so as not to disappoint millions of children and viewers.

Thanksgiving parades also occur in other cities like Plymouth, Houston, Philadelphia and Detroit (where it is the only major parade of the year).

Important Features of Thanksgiving Parade
Important features of the parade are moving stands with specific themes, scenes from Broadway plays, large balloons of cartoon characters and TV personalities, and high school marching bands. The parade comes to an end with Santa Claus's image passing the stands.

Some poems about Thanksgiving Day...

Thanksgiving Time
When all the leaves are off the boughs,
And nuts and apples gathered in,
And cornstalks waiting for the cows,
And pumpkins safe in barn and bin,
Then Mother says, "My children dear,
The fields are brown, and autumn flies;
Thanksgiving Day is very near,
And we must make thanksgiving pies!"
Author Unknown.
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Poem 10
Thanksgiving
The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway ---
Thanksgiving comes again!
Old Rhyme.
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Poem 11
The First Thanksgiving
When the Pilgrims
first gathered together to share
with their Indian friends
in the mild autumn air,
they lifted the voices
in jubilant praise
for the bread on the table,
the berries and maize,
for field and for forest,
for turkey and deer,
for the bountiful crops
they were blessed with that year.
They were thankful for these
as they feasted away,
and as they were thankful
we're thankful today.
Unknown

From www.thanksgiving-day.org/ Acesso em 19/10/2008.