Thanksgiving Day, legal holiday observed annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October. Most people celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering with family or friends for a holiday feast. Thanksgiving was first celebrated by Pilgrims(英国清教徒)and Native Americans in colonial New England in the early 17th century. Its actual origin, however, probably traces to harvest festivals that have been traditional in many parts of the world since ancient times. Today Thanksgiving is mainly a celebration of domestic life. centered on the home and family.
Many activities commonly associated with Thanksgiving are derived from much older traditions of celebrating the autumn harvest. Today, many communities also decorate their churches with fruits, flowers. and vegetables at Thanksgiving, much as European communities have for centuries during the autumn harvest season.
In keeping with the idea of celebrating a plentiful harvest, preparing and eating a large meal is a central part of most Thanksgiving celebrations. Thanksgiving menus usually include turkey, bread-crumb stuffing(面包屑填料), cranberry sauce(越桔沙司), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. These foods recall the countryside life of the Pilgrims. Additionally. most of these foods are native to North America. Later groups of immigrants to North America often adapted the traditional holiday menu to fit their own tastes. For example, many Italian American Thanksgiving meals include Italian specialties, such as pasta and wine.
Many Americans digest their holiday meal while watching football s on television. Traditionally, two National Football League (NFL)teams, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, host s on Thanksgiving Day. High viewership of these holiday s has made football an American Thanksgiving tradition.
Thanksgiving Day, legal holiday observed annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October. Most people celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering with family or friends for a holiday feast. Thanksgiving was first celebrated by Pilgrims(英国清教徒)and Native Americans in colonial New England in the early 17th century. Its actual origin, however, probably traces to harvest festivals that have been traditional in many parts of the world since ancient times. Today Thanksgiving is mainly a celebration of domestic life. centered on the home and family.
Many activities commonly associated with Thanksgiving are derived from much older traditions of celebrating the autumn harvest. Today, many communities also decorate their churches with fruits, flowers. and vegetables at Thanksgiving, much as European communities have for centuries during the autumn harvest season.
In keeping with the idea of celebrating a plentiful harvest, preparing and eating a large meal is a central part of most Thanksgiving celebrations. Thanksgiving menus usually include turkey, bread-crumb stuffing(面包屑填料), cranberry sauce(越桔沙司), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. These foods recall the countryside life of the Pilgrims. Additionally. most of these foods are native to North America. Later groups of immigrants to North America often adapted the traditional holiday menu to fit their own tastes. For example, many Italian American Thanksgiving meals include Italian specialties, such as pasta and wine.
Many Americans digest their holiday meal while watching football s on television. Traditionally, two National Football League (NFL)teams, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, host s on Thanksgiving Day. High viewership of these holiday s has made football an American Thanksgiving tradition.