the-history-of-thanksgiving-busyteacher

The history of Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving
Modern Thanksgiving has its direct origins in American history. In 1609, a group of Puritans fleeing
religious persecution in England moved to Holland. They lived in Holland for a number of years
until a group of English investors -- the Merchant Adventurers -- financed a trip for more than 100
passengers to the New World.
On Sept. 6, 1620, they set sail on a ship called the Mayflower, leaving from England and arriving
in the New World after 65 days. They settled in a town called Plymouth in what is
now Massachusetts. The Pilgrims' first winter was so harsh that fewer than 50 of the group
survived the season.
On March 16, 1621, an Abnaki Indian (or Native American) named Samoset entered the Plymouth
settlement. He welcomed the Pilgrims in English, and the next day returned with another Native
American named Squanto, who spoke English well. With Squanto's help, the Pilgrims were able to
survive in the New World. He taught them how to get sap out of the maple trees, how to avoid
plants that were poisonous and how to plant corn and other crops.
The harvest was very successful, due in large part to help from the Native Americans. The
Pilgrims had enough food for the winter and had learned how to survive in the New World.
Plymouth Colony's Governor, William Bradford, decided to throw a celebratory feast and invited
the colony's Native American neighbors to take part. The Native Americans brought food as well,
and the celebration lasted for three days.
Historians believe that this celebration took place sometime in the fall. And although there are very
few clues to reconstruct the feast, some scholars believe that food items, like venison and fish,
were the main sources of protein, rather than turkey. It's also thought that the food preparation
would have been greatly influenced by Native American traditions since the Puritans had been
instructed by Native Americans on how to cultivate and cook items.
Many view the first Thanksgiving as an example of the possibility of great respect and cooperation
between two different cultures. But others see it as a symbol of the colonists' eventual persecution
of the Native Americans. Sadly, the friendly spirit of the first Thanksgiving and the 50-year period
of peace that followed is one exception in a long history of bloodshed between Native American
tribes and European settlers.
In 1970, some Native Americans began observing a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day to
remember the violence and discrimination suffered by their ancestors. The Day of Mourning is
observed by gathering at the top of "Coles Hill," which overlooks Plymouth Rock.
The history of Thanksgiving
I. How much do you know about Thanksgiving? Choose the right answers in this quiz:
1. What is the origin of Thanksgiving?

a. Children thanking their parents b. Native Americans thanking Pilgrims
c. The USA thanking allied countries d. Pilgrims thanking Native Americans
2. What year did the Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?

a. 1610 b. 1621 c. 1630 d. 1721
3. When is Thanksgiving in the United States?

a. The second Thursday of November
b. The third Friday of November
c. The fourth Thursday of November
d. The first Thursday of December
4. What do Americans traditionally eat at Thanksgiving?

a. Roast chicken and French fries b. Stuffed turkey and tomato soup
c. Stuffed turkey and chocolate pie d. Stuffed turkey and pumpkin pie
5. What big sports event takes place on Thanksgiving day?

a. American football games b. The US Open c. The Daytona 500 auto race
6. Who was the first U.S. President to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday?
a. George Washington b. Abraham Lincoln c. Franklin D. Roosevelt
7. When do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving?

a. The same day as the USA b. The second Monday of November
c. The second Monday of October d. The fourth Thursday of October
8. How many days did the first Thanksgiving celebrations last?

a. Two b. Three c. Five d. Seven
9. In 1941, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution making Thanksgiving Day the fourth Thursday in November rather
than the last. What was the purpose of the change?
a. To avoid potential snowstorms in the north b. To avoid heavy rains in the south
c. To extend the Christmas shopping season d. All of the above
10. Today, what is the most important celebration for most Americans?
a. Easter b. Spring break c. Thanksgiving d. Christmas
II. Read the text and answer the questions:
A. Find the English words for: (they are in the order of the text)
1. rude / rigoureux: 6. la récolte:
2. une colonie: 7. des chercheurs :
3. la sève: 8. un carnage :
4. des érables: 9. les colons :
5. des cultures: 10. le deuil:
B. Right or wrong? Justify with a line number.

1. Pilgrims arrived in the New World on the Mayflower after sailing from Europe for 65 days.
2. The first Native American Indian that the pilgrims met did not speak English.
3. Puritans fleeing religious persecution moved to France before 100 of them moved to the New World.
4. The first harvest of the pilgrims was very successful.
5. The pilgrims had a feast to celebrate their good harvest, but they did not invite the Native American
Indians who helped them with their crops.
6. The first celebratory feast of the pilgrims probably took place in the fall.
7. Today, some people view Thanksgiving as a symbol of the pilgrims’ eventual persecution of the Native
American Indians.
8. In 1970, some descendants of the first settlers began observing a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving
Day
C. Irregular verbs: fill in the table:
INFINITIVE SIMPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE
to flee (l.2)
spoke (l.12)
taught (l. 14)
to throw (l. 19)
brought (l. 20)

The Natives’ view on Thanksgiving
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW0s8ToCyU8 (4 :44)
Why These Native Americans Observe A National Day Of Mourning Each Thanksgiving
Say if these sentences are right, wrong or not mentioned: R W N.M.
1. Moonanum (the speaker) does not want to celebrate the Pilgrims because he
thinks they did nothing for his people.
2. Moonanum is Apache.
3. He is an organizer of the National Day of Mourning.
4. His wife is also involved in the movement.
5. According to Moonanum, the first Thanksgiving celebration was actually in
1639.
6. The real first Thanksgiving was organized by Governor Winthrop, to thank for
the safe return of the men who had killed many Peqout Natives.
7. Moonanum’s father started the National Day of Mourning in 1970 after his
speech was censored.
8. Moonanum is very moved.
9. The Natives’ situation in the American society is fine today.
10. Moonanum has the impression that Natives are invisible in the American
society.
Why does Moonanum use the word “Thankstaking” instead of “Thanksgiving”?
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGc34FeFqH0 (2 :21)
Thanksgiving | Native Americans | One Word
1. What words are given by the Native people interviewed when asked to associate a word with
“Thanksgiving”? Make three groups of words: positive, negative and neutral. What do you notice?
Positive terms Negative terms Neutral terms

2. What adjectives could you use to describe the people you saw?

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The history of Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving

1. What is the origin of Thanksgiving?

2. What year did the Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?

3. When is Thanksgiving in the United States?

4. What do Americans traditionally eat at Thanksgiving?

5. What big sports event takes place on Thanksgiving day?

7. When do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving?

8. How many days did the first Thanksgiving celebrations last?

B. Right or wrong? Justify with a line number.

C. Irregular verbs: fill in the table:

INFINITIVE SIMPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE

taught (l. 14)

to throw (l. 19)

brought (l. 20)

Say if these sentences are right, wrong or not mentioned: R W N.M.

9. The Natives’ situation in the American society is fine today.

Why does Moonanum use the word “Thankstaking” instead of “Thanksgiving”?

Positive terms Negative terms Neutral terms

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