For Spanish English language learners.

1. Thanksgiving
What is the holiday?

2. Thanksgiving is a holiday in the
United States and Canada that is
supposed to celebrate the people,
places, and things that are most
important to you.
- Different Days in US and Canada
- US: 4th Thursday in November
- Can: 2nd Tuesday in October
Background

3. Thanksgiving is one of the most popular
American Holidays.
Thanksgiving is usually the busiest
week of travel in the United States.
- Airports, trains, highways ALL full
Over 90% of Americans celebrate the
holiday, most celebrated American
holiday.
- No religion, every culture
How Popular?

4. The story of Thanksgiving is usually described as follows:
English settlers, struggling with their first winter in the
harsh American climate are helped by the local Native
Americans. To celebrate this new friendship, a tradition of
yearly feasts with loved ones began.
While this simple story is partly true, this is not a complete
picture. The real story is more complicated, and less happy.
The Story Real or Fake?

5. The real story is as follows:
The English settlers had a bad first winter. The could not grow food, and they were not
used to the weather in the new land. They eventually encounter the local people, and
are surprised to find a person who speaks English. This man (named Squanto) learned
English because he had been enslaved in England previously. While he was a slave, a
sickness killed almost all of his home town.
In order to establish good relations with these English settlers and stop them from
fighting with the people on the land, Squanto and other leaders showed the English
settlers how to hunt and grow food on the land. The celebrated this peace with a
feast.
The native people were eventually forced to move after the first Thanksgiving anway.
The History What happened?

6. Because of the bad parts of the History, Thanksgiving has
changed in meaning a little bit.
The Holiday is now meant to be a celebration of family,
friends, and other things you are thankful for.
People get together with their families from across the
entire country, and make food that is traditional to them
and their culture.
The day is also used to rest and spend time with love ones
who you usually do not see.
How it is celebrated
Today

7. Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Every Thanksgiving, there is a large parade in New York City that is put on by the department
store Macy’s. Most Large Companies will participate in the parade, along with local high
schools, colleges, and other organizations.
Football
- Thanksgiving is the second most watched day for football in the United States. People like to
watch football with their families following the big meal, and spend time together they don’t
usually have.
Turkey Trot
- The Turkey trot is a short running race usually done before the big meal. It is usually
attended by the whole family to cheer on the people racing.
Turkey Pardon
- Each year, the President of the United States picks a few turkeys that are “pardoned,” meaning
that they don’t get eaten.
Traditions
Macy’s Parade

8. Typical Food
Turkey Mac and Cheese Mashed Potatoes Many, many others
The most traditional
Thanksgiving dish
Common on most
Thanksgiving tables
Usually some sort of
potatoes on every table
Each family has their own
take on the food!

9. If your family were to have Thanksgiving, what would you
eat?
It can be anything. Food that your family normally makes
for holidays or special occasions is good to keep in mind.
What would you eat?

10. THANK YOU