Thanksgiving Day in the USA

One of the major holidays in america is Thanksgiving Day. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. On this day, Americans give thanks to God for the blessings they  enjoyed during the year. It is a family day, wich people selebrate with big dinners and happy reunions. It is appropriate to invite an Indian to an American home. The housewives serve Roast turkey  with cranberry sauceand pumpkin pie.

Many of the traditions of the modern Thanksgiving come from the first Thanksgiving celebration. It was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. The people of Plymouth had come to America from England in 1620. They weren’t trained and equipped to cope with the life in the wilderness. During their first winter, about half of them died because of diseases, insufficient food and hard work. In spring, Samoset and Squantohe visited the settlers, they were two Indians who spoke English. Later they brought their chief Massassoit who brought gifts to the white settlers and made a treaty with them. These Indians stayed and helped the Pilgrims a lot, teaching them how to plant, fish and hunt. Because of this help the settlers had a good harvest next year. Governor William Bradford was a wise man. He followed an ancient tradition and, in the fall of 1621, he established a day of Thanksgiving to God. The governor also decided to use this religious occasion to strengthen the friendship between the settlers and their Indian neighbours. So he invited Chief Massassoit ad his braves to share the Thanksgiving feast. The Indians gladly accepted the invitation and sent deer meat for the feast. The settlers went hunting and returned with turkey and other wild animals. The women of Plymouth prepared delicious dishes from pumpkin, squash and cranberries . The first Thanksgiving celebration was a success. It lasted three days. The hosts and guests spent the time eating, feasting, and competing in wrestling and racing.