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Practice dictation & shadowing on the daily life story: Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day
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Thanksgiving Day
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Thanksgiving Day has a special meaning for Americans.
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Many holidays were brought along from Europe by the early settlers and didn't change very much.
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But Thanksgiving takes on a special shape in North America.
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That is because of the Thanksgiving celebrated by the early Pilgrim settlers in Massachusetts in 1621.
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These early settlers were from England and they were known as Puritans.
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This is because they wanted to purify the state religion of England.
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They felt that the churches were more concerned with politics and customs than God and worship.
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They were also called pilgrims because they were willing to travel to other countries in order to worship God the way they wanted to.
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When the English government put some of the pilgrims in jail, the rest left England and went to the Netherlands.
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In the Netherlands they could have their own churches.
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However, it was hard to earn a living there and at first they didn't know the language.
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In time, the English king learned where they were and try to have them arrested.
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So they thought of another plan.
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Pilgrim leaders like William Brewster attempted to raise money to start a colony in North America.
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They would have to borrow money and pay it back.
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Later, thirty members of the Pilgrim Church in the Netherlands voted to sail to America with their families.
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They returned to England and set sail on 2 ships, the Speed Well and the Mayflower.
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When the speed well appeared, unable to cross the ocean, both ships returned to England.
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All who still wanted to sail crowded into the Mayflower and set sail on September 6th, 1620.
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Many of the passengers became sick during the long voyage, and some died.
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They encountered fierce storms because they were sailing late in the season.
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After 66 days, they sighted the sandy shoreline of Cape Cod in Presentday, Massachusetts.
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There was disagreement between the Pilgrims and others on board ship about what to do.
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So first they had to agree to a common form of a government and elected governor.
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Since winter was coming, they decided to stay on the ship till spring.
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About half of the remaining settlers died during the first winter.
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When the Mayflower sailed back to England, only about 50 settlers were left.
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Nearly half of these were children.
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They were Indians in Massachusetts, but at first they were not friendly.
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They shot arrows at the settlers.
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But one day a friendly Indian named Samiset came to visit them.
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He spoke English and could tell the many things.
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He brought another Indian name, Squanto, who showed the Pilgrims how to plant a corn.
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Eventually their chief Massasoit came and he promised to keep peaceful relations with the settlers.
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All spring and summer of 1621, the Pilgrims worked hard in the fields.
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They also finished building houses and barns in the fall.
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They were delighted to see that the corn and vegetables had grown well.
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They decided to have a Thanksgiving feast and invited their Indian friends.
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On the day of the feast, Chief Massasoit came with 90 Indians.
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There were turkeys, deer meat and fish to eat.
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The feast lasted 3 days.
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When the food ran low, the Indians went out to shoot more birds and animals.
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The Pilgrims and Indians competed in races, wrestling, shooting, and other games.
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The Pilgrims addressed prayers and thanks to God for providing food, shelter, freedom of religion, and friendly Indians in this new land.
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Ever since 1621, Thanksgiving celebrations include memories of that special occasion.
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Today, turkeys, cranberries, corn and squash are usually part of the Thanksgiving meal.
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In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday.
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It's celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday in November.
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In Canada, where the harvest is earlier, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October.
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The celebration always includes giving thanks for the good things that people have received, especially for food and families.
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Along with this goes the Thanksgiving meal, when so many good things are eaten.