Thanksgiving in the US
Description:
Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 by English colonists living in the Plymouth Colony. The previous winter was very hard and hungry, the new winter also bodes little for the colonists. Then Governor William Bradford decided to raise the spirits of his subordinates and organized the first Thanksgiving. The holiday was jointly celebrated by British colonists and their Indian neighbors, thanks to whom the Plymouth colony survived the first famine winter.
The Puritans brought to this holiday a deep religious meaning - they saw it as a way to thank God for his mercy.
Thanksgiving became a national holiday after the decree of the first President of the country George Washington (1789).
Thanksgiving is associated with a number of traditions that Americans cherish and observe. All family members must go to church, and after the service gather at the festive table.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, charity is blossoming: Americans are trying to feed and somehow please their neighbors who are unlucky in life. Even at metro stations, special tables are installed, on which everyone can put their donations, including food. An advertisement in the newspaper reads, “If you donate $1.90, you can give a hot lunch to a homeless or poor countryman.” Donating $19 will help feed 10 people. On the eve of the holiday, charities distribute collected gifts to those in need, and lunches are organized for the homeless.
The second most important attribute of Thanksgiving is turkey. At the first festival, the colonists and Indians roasted and together ate four turkeys shot in the nearby forest. Since then, turkey and Thanksgiving have become synonymous, poultry farmers fatten turkeys specifically for this holiday.
The third attribute of the holiday: parades (mostly costumed - in 17th century clothes and Indian costumes) and fun.
