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!
Are the sentences true or false?
1. Thanksgiving was originally celebrated by European settlers in North America.2. At many Thanksgiving celebrations, everyone tells the group what they are most thankful for.
3. Modern-day Thanksgiving celebrations are very religious.
4. The main part of Thanksgiving is the preparation and sharing of a big meal.
5. Only Americans play and watch football during Thanksgiving.
6. The American President kills two turkeys every year.
Complete the sentences
Words: feast, gratitude, light-hearted, pardon, secular and 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.
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-english/magazine/thanksgiving
GIVING THANKS
POETRY
Taking three symbols of Thanksgiving – turkey, stuffing and blessing, let’s take a look at 7 idioms that are commonly used in English.
1. To be stuffed
To be full and can’t eat anymore.
The meal was absolutely delicious. I’m afraid I can’t eat one morsel more. I’m stuffed.
To be full and can’t eat anymore.
The meal was absolutely delicious. I’m afraid I can’t eat one morsel more. I’m stuffed.
2. To go cold turkey
to suddenly stop a bad habit and suffer from it at the beginning. (This is often used when talking about a drug addict who suddenly stops taking drugs.)
Many people who attempt to quit smoking do so by going cold turkey rather than by gradually cutting down.”
to suddenly stop a bad habit and suffer from it at the beginning. (This is often used when talking about a drug addict who suddenly stops taking drugs.)
Many people who attempt to quit smoking do so by going cold turkey rather than by gradually cutting down.”
3. To count your blessings
to be grateful for the good things in your life
We have a lovely home, healthy children and each other – we should count our blessings.
to be grateful for the good things in your life
We have a lovely home, healthy children and each other – we should count our blessings.
4. A stuffed shirt
a person who behaves in a very formal way and expects to be treated as someone very important
The stuffed shirts in this company don’t realise that they need new blood if we are to survive the crisis.
a person who behaves in a very formal way and expects to be treated as someone very important
The stuffed shirts in this company don’t realise that they need new blood if we are to survive the crisis.
5. A blessing in disguise
something that at first appears to be bad or unlucky but is actually good
I was really upset when I was first made redundant but when I look back now, it was a blessing in disguise. I’ve never been happier with my current work.
something that at first appears to be bad or unlucky but is actually good
I was really upset when I was first made redundant but when I look back now, it was a blessing in disguise. I’ve never been happier with my current work.
6. To talk turkey (mainly American English) –to discuss a problem in a serious way with a real intention to solve it
The politicians need to stop messing around and start talking turkey.
The politicians need to stop messing around and start talking turkey.
7. To be a mixed blessing
something that has bad effects as well as advantages
Being beautiful can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you receive a lot of attention, but on the other hand, people don’t always take you seriously.
QUIZsomething that has bad effects as well as advantages
Being beautiful can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, you receive a lot of attention, but on the other hand, people don’t always take you seriously.
