THANKSGIVING DAY England in the 17th century was in turmoil. Various religious groups sprung up, some of them demanding a return to a purer, more religious way of life. They were called Puritans. The King imposed persecution on the Puritans, and their more radical element fled the country. At first, a few Pilgrims went to Holland, then some of them decided to travel to the New World, a place they had only heard about. On September 6, 1620 a group of travelers set sail for the New World from Plymouth, England on a ship called the Mayflower. The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth in America (named after Plymouth in England) on November 10th. Their biggest concern was attack by the local Native American Indians. The first winter was very cold, and the snow was heavy and many had died during the long winter. Of the 110 Pilgrims and crew who left England the first year, less than 50 survived. In March 1621, the Pilgrims met an Indian- Squanto. Squanto´s importance to the Pilgrims was enormous and they would probably not have survived without his help. It was Squanto who taught the Pilgrims how to tap the maple trees for sap, which plants were poisonous and which had medical powers and how to plant Indian maize. The harvest in October was very successful. The Pilgrim Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. Squanto and the other Indians were invited to join them in their celebration. The following year the Pilgrims´harvest was not as bountiful and the third year was hot and dry, with the crops dying in the fields. Governor Bradford ordered a day of fasting and prayer, and it was soon thereafter that the rain came. To celebrate, November 29 th of that year was proclaimed a day of thanks-giving. This day is believed to be the real beginning of the present-day Thanksgiving Day.
Turmoil- nepokoje sprung up- objevily se pure- čistý,nezkažený impose- uvalit flee(fled,fled)-utéci set sail-vyplout maize- kukuřice crops-plodina,sklizeň to fast- postit se prayer- modlitba Pilgrim- poutník concern- starost,obava crew- posádka harvest- sklizeň tap the maple trees for sap-odsávat šťávu z javorů bountiful- hojný
Thanksgiving Day A National Thanksgiving Day came into being only after the 13 colonies had united. The resolution was adopted and President George Washington suggested the date November 26.
The first National Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1789. Then in 1864, at the end of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln asked all Americans to set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving. Since then, Americans have celebrated it on the 4th Thursday of November, a different date every year. The advantage of such arrangement is that relatives from all the corners of the States have a four-day free weekend which enables them to meet. On Thanksgiving Day family members gather for a reunion, even if they live far away. The big family dinner is planned months ahead. The dinner menu remains as it was in early times. However, it must be built around roast turkey with bread dressing. The table decorations also follow a traditional pattern- a harvest of bright-colored gourds, ears of Indian corn, apples, oranges, chestnuts, walnuts, etc. Flowers also bring the autumn scene atmosphere. Thanksgiving Menu: Roast turkey stuffed with herb-flavoured bread Cranberry jelly White mashed potatoes Pumpkin pie There may be other menu variations typical for the given region as ham, sweet potatoes, creamed corn and mincemeat pie. Sweet-sour cranberry sauce, or cranberry jelly, was on the first Thanksgiving table, and is still served today. The cranberry is a small, sour berry. It grows in muddy areas of Massachussetts and other New England states.The Indians used the fruit to treat infections. They also used the juice to dye their rugs and blankets. They taught the colonists how to cook the berries to make a sauce.