2. Content
• What is Thanksgiving?
• History
– The first Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Traditions
– The Thanksgiving meal
– Giving thanks
– Parades and other customs

3. What is Thanksgiving?


Thanksgiving is a traditional North American
holiday to give thanks at the end of the harvest
season.
North Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by
getting together with loved ones to give thanks
for the good things in life, such as prosperity,
health, and the love of friends and family.

4. What is Thanksgiving?

Canada and the United States celebrate
Thanksgiving on separate days.

United States: 4th
Thursday of November
(November 26th)

Canada: 2nd Monday
of October (October
12th)

5. The History of Thanksgiving


On Thanksgiving,
Americans remember
the difficulties that the
Pilgrims faced when
they first arrived in the
North America
The Pilgrims: A group
of English Puritans that
traveled to the New
World to find religious
freedom

6. The History of Thanksgiving



September 1620: The
Pilgrims set sail from
Holland to the New World
in a ship called The
Mayflower.
There were 120
passengers.
The trip lasted 65 days.

7. The History of Thanksgiving


November 1620: The
Pilgrims landed in
Massachusetts.
They named their
settlement Plymouth.

9. The History of Thanksgiving


The Pilgrims struggled to survive during their
first winter. The weather was cold and they
didn´t have enough food to eat.
Many died from pneumonia and typhus.

10. The History of Thanksgiving


March 1621: The
local Native
Americans, the
Patuxets, decided
to help the Pilgrims
Squanto was an
English speaking
brave that taught
the Pilgrims how to
survive in the
wilderness

11. The History of Thanksgiving


Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to:
Plant crops

Fish

Hunt

12. The History of Thanksgiving


October 1621:
Thanks to Squanto
´s help, the fall
harvest was very
good. The Pilgrims
had extra food for
the winter.
The Pilgrims
celebrated their
good fortune with
the Patuxets.

13. The History of Thanksgiving



The first Thanksgiving
celebration lasted for
three days.
Over 90 Patuxet
Indians attended,
including Squanto.
The Pilgrims and the
Patuxets feasted,
played skill games,
and gave thanks for
their friendship and
prosperity.

14. Thanksgiving Today

Americans continue in this tradition today by
gathering together with family and friends. In
fact, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of
the year in the United States.

15. Thanksgiving Dinner

Typical Thanksgiving dinner usually consists of:


Roast turkey
Gravy

Stuffing

16. Thanksgiving Dinner

Appetizers, etc.:


Deviled Eggs
Shrimp Cocktail

Fruit plates

17. Thanksgiving Dinner
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Vegetables, etc.:
Corn

Cranberry Sauce
Sweet potatoes


Mashed potatoes
Green Bean Casserole  Nuts

18. Thanksgiving Dinner

Dessert:



Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Apple Crisps

19. Giving Thanks


Before eating Thanksgiving dinner, many families
give thanks for the good things in life.
Usually, each member of the family shares what he or
she is grateful for.


¨This year, I am thankful for my good health¨
¨This year, I am thankful to be living back at home¨

20. Other Traditions: Macy´s Day Parade


Every Thanksgiving
morning, Macy´s (a
department store in the
United States) puts on a
three hour long parade
in New York City.
This tradition began in
1924 when European
immigrants working in
Macy´s Manhattan store
wanted to celebrate
Thanksgiving in a
public (and more
European) way.

21. Other Traditions: Macy´s Day Parade


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Today, the parade runs
from Central Park to
Time´s Square.
The parade is televised
across the United States.
The parade includes
marching bands,
celebrity performers,
Broadway singers,
dance groups, floats,
and giant helium
balloons.
Over 300,000 people
attend every year

26. 
The end of the parade marks the start of the
Christmas shopping season.