Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving and Fourth of JulyFourth of July

One of the most important One of the most important holidays in United Statesholidays in United States

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Agnieszka SzewerniakAgnieszka Szewerniak

ThanksgivingThanksgiving

One of the most important holidays One of the most important holidays celebrated in the Unitedcelebrated in the United States is States is Thanksgiving. The celebration has its Thanksgiving. The celebration has its roots in theroots in the very beginnings of the very beginnings of the first settlement by the English first settlement by the English PilgrimsPilgrims in the New World. The in the New World. The Pilgrims arrived to a land inhabitedPilgrims arrived to a land inhabited by Americanby American. .

The pilgrims found what they The pilgrims found what they were looking were looking for - religious freedomfor - religious freedom. But the new land . But the new land wasn’t good for them and they didn’t know wasn’t good for them and they didn’t know how to manage in new area. Thow to manage in new area. They could allhey could all have died of starvation soon upon their have died of starvation soon upon their arrival. In fact, duringarrival. In fact, during the first winter half of the first winter half of the colonists died. Unfamiliar withthe colonists died. Unfamiliar with growing growing crops or hunting in new circumstances, they crops or hunting in new circumstances, they wouldwould not have survived the next winter of not have survived the next winter of 1621 except for the1621 except for the help of the native help of the native inhabitants of the land.inhabitants of the land.

The residents of AmericaThe residents of America

Wampanoag Indians had been living in Wampanoag Indians had been living in the area for manythe area for many centuries before. centuries before. They lived in harmony withThey lived in harmony with nature nature takingtaking only what was necessary, only what was necessary, respecting plants and animalsrespecting plants and animals whom whom they treated as their relatives. They they treated as their relatives. They could efficientlycould efficiently grow corn and other grow corn and other cropscrops because they knew when is the because they knew when is the right time to begin harvestright time to begin harvest, , they also they also knew how to knew how to hunt and fish. hunt and fish.

First ThanksgivingFirst Thanksgiving The first Thanksgiving feast was in 1621 The first Thanksgiving feast was in 1621

from pilgrims to their from pilgrims to their benefactors, the benefactors, the Wampanoag peopleWampanoag people. The pilgrims were . The pilgrims were really gratefull because Indians taught really gratefull because Indians taught them how to hunt, grow crops and when them how to hunt, grow crops and when they should plant vegetables, they also they should plant vegetables, they also gave them some food supplies consisted gave them some food supplies consisted of of corn, barley, beans and pumpkinscorn, barley, beans and pumpkins..

This feast lasted for three days and people This feast lasted for three days and people celebratcelebrated there ed there a bountiful harvest. a bountiful harvest. Wampanoag IndiansWampanoag Indians brought deer and the brought deer and the Pilgrims provided fowl (probably turkey),Pilgrims provided fowl (probably turkey), seafood, vegetables, fruit and nutsseafood, vegetables, fruit and nuts. .

Thanksgiving is a family event, perhaps Thanksgiving is a family event, perhaps more than any othermore than any other holiday in the United holiday in the United States. After a full morning of preparingStates. After a full morning of preparing the the meal, the whole family gathers around the meal, the whole family gathers around the table. Religioustable. Religious families begin the meal by families begin the meal by saying gracesaying grace and and a p a prayer rayer said before or said before or after a meal. This is not surprising after a meal. This is not surprising consideringconsidering the fact that the original the fact that the original Thanksgiving was a religious holiday.Thanksgiving was a religious holiday.

After the meal, a TV set is switched on in After the meal, a TV set is switched on in many householdsmany households as there has been a long as there has been a long tradition to watch Americantradition to watch American football on that football on that day. The tradition known as the day. The tradition known as the ThanksgivingThanksgiving Classic was established by the Classic was established by the National Football LeagueNational Football League which has played which has played games on Thanksgiving every yeargames on Thanksgiving every year. Some of . Some of families go on trips somewhere in country. families go on trips somewhere in country.

Thanksgiving dinnerThanksgiving dinner The staple menu for ThanksgivingThe staple menu for Thanksgivingdinner includes dinner includes :: roast turkey withroast turkey with stuffing and gravy,stuffing and gravy, mashed andmashed and sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry saucecranberry sauce pumpkin or pecan piepumpkin or pecan pie

Hundreds of recipesHundreds of recipes exist forexist for

each each oof these foods, and most households aref these foods, and most households are faithful tofaithful to family recipesfamily recipes handed down from handed down from

generation to generation. Vegetarians are not generation to generation. Vegetarians are not left out. Thanksgiving recipes for delicaciesleft out. Thanksgiving recipes for delicacies

such as butternut squash, mushroom lasagna, such as butternut squash, mushroom lasagna, BrusselsBrussels

sprouts with white beans, green beans and walnutssprouts with white beans, green beans and walnuts. .

Pecan pie and pumpkin pie Pecan pie and pumpkin pie

Mashed and Cranberry Mashed and Cranberry saucesauce

sweet potatoessweet potatoes

Some important datesSome important dates

In 1863 Thanksgiving became federal In 1863 Thanksgiving became federal holiday and pholiday and president Abraham resident Abraham Lincoln decided that on theLincoln decided that on the last last Thursday of each November Thursday of each November Americans throughout theAmericans throughout the country country should give thanks for all the good should give thanks for all the good things that happenedthings that happened to them. to them.

Finally, in Finally, in 1941 1941 a congressional a congressional resolutionresolution moved the holiday to the moved the holiday to the fourth Thursday of Novemberfourth Thursday of November. .

Thanksgiving is calebrated only in Thanksgiving is calebrated only in Canada and United States. In Canada Canada and United States. In Canada it takes place on 2nd Monday of it takes place on 2nd Monday of October.October.

4th of July4th of July

The Declaration of Independence, the The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution andConstitution and the Bill of Rights are the Bill of Rights are America’s three mosAmerica’s three most t importantimportant documents. Together they are called documents. Together they are called the the Charters ofCharters of FreedomFreedom. Of the . Of the three, the Declaration of three, the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence was the first.was the first.

The rise of ConstitutionThe rise of Constitution Thomas Jefferson, America's third president, Thomas Jefferson, America's third president,

prepared theprepared the text. He collaborated on the draft text. He collaborated on the draft with John Adams, Benjaminwith John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Franklin, Robert Livingstone and RogerLivingstone and Roger Sherman. Jefferson based Sherman. Jefferson based the Declaration on a list ofthe Declaration on a list of grievances against the grievances against the British crown prepared a little earlierBritish crown prepared a little earlier by the First by the First Continental Congress.Continental Congress. Jefferson presented the Jefferson presented the draft for discussion at thedraft for discussion at the Second Continental Second Continental Congress held in Philadelphia. On July 2, 1776 the Congress held in Philadelphia. On July 2, 1776 the final versionfinal version was agreed upon and signed.was agreed upon and signed. Two Two days later ondays later on July 4 the Congress officially July 4 the Congress officially approved the Declarationapproved the Declaration of Independence and of Independence and announced thatannounced that America was breaking ties with America was breaking ties with England andEngland and forming a new nation, the United forming a new nation, the United States of America.States of America.

TThe ringing of bells, ships firing guns, he ringing of bells, ships firing guns, bandsbands playing music and applause playing music and applause from the crowdsfrom the crowds that’s what was that’s what was happening when the Declaration was happening when the Declaration was about to be read. Tabout to be read. Thehe document document was was read to the public in Philadelphia'sread to the public in Philadelphia's Independence Square.Independence Square.

No other holiday in the U.S. is No other holiday in the U.S. is celebrated in an equallycelebrated in an equally grandiose grandiose and spectacular way. July 4 has and spectacular way. July 4 has alwaysalways been unique. Some people been unique. Some people put the "blame" onput the "blame" on JohnJohn Adams, one Adams, one of the signatories of the Declarof the signatories of the Declaraation tion ofof IndependencIndependence e and the second and the second president. president.

Just after theJust after the signing of the Declaration, Adams wrote signing of the Declaration, Adams wrote about theabout the event in a letter to his wife:event in a letter to his wife:

I believe that it [the Declaration of Independence] willI believe that it [the Declaration of Independence] willbe celebrated by succeeding generations as the greatbe celebrated by succeeding generations as the greatanniversary festival... It ought to be [celebrated] withanniversary festival... It ought to be [celebrated] withpomp and parades, with shows, games, sports, guns,pomp and parades, with shows, games, sports, guns,bells, bonfires and illumination from one end of thisbells, bonfires and illumination from one end of thiscontinent to the other.continent to the other.

Americans have taken these words to heart. EverAmericans have taken these words to heart. Eversince 1777 (America’s first birthday) they have sparedsince 1777 (America’s first birthday) they have sparedno cost on celebrations. When the War of Independenceno cost on celebrations. When the War of Independencefinished in 1783, Independence Day was made afinished in 1783, Independence Day was made aholiday. However, it was declared a federal holidayholiday. However, it was declared a federal holidayin 1941.in 1941.

CelebratingCelebrating Today many cities organize grand fireworks Today many cities organize grand fireworks

shows.shows.New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. areNew York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. arenaturally in the lead, but the other end of the naturally in the lead, but the other end of the

continentcontinent(again to prove John Adams right) does not stay (again to prove John Adams right) does not stay

behind.behind.

They organize BBQs and picnics, visit fairs, watchThey organize BBQs and picnics, visit fairs, watch parades,parades, fireworks and marching bands. But many fireworks and marching bands. But many peoplepeople do travel and go on tours do travel and go on tours toto national parks. national parks.

Answer the questions Answer the questions

The kind of fowl which is eaten on The kind of fowl which is eaten on Thanksgiving – Thanksgiving –

Sweet pie made of corn syrup and nuts Sweet pie made of corn syrup and nuts – –

Which Thursday do Americans Which Thursday do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving – celebrate Thanksgiving –

When do Canadian celebrate When do Canadian celebrate Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving -

When is the holiday of Independence When is the holiday of Independence celenbated – celenbated –

Who was the president of USA during Who was the president of USA during the preparation of the Declaration – the preparation of the Declaration –