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THANSKGIVING

This holiday is celebrated on the days of 22 and 23 of November.

On 22 the families enjoy a dinner with turkey, cranberry, corn, cornbread, wheat, chestnuts, mashed potatoes, cookies, etc and go to see Parades like the Macys’ Thanksgiving Parade.

On 23 the families go to the black Friday where they go to buy a lot of stuff and they are all the day in the streets buying and walking.

The countries where Thanksgiving is officially celebrated are U.S.A. because the First Thanksgiving was celebrated here and Canada because goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been futilely attempting to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did, however, establish a settlement in Canada. In the year 1578, Frobisher held a formal ceremony in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey.

In other countries they have parties of thanks that is alike Thanksgiving like in few parts of India it can be called Pongal or Baisakhi or Moon Festival or Onam, in Malaysia is called Tadau ka’amatan, Pakistan, in Korea is called Chusok, in Israel is called Succoth or Sukkot, in Ghana and Nigeria is called Yam. In these countries have thanks parties are alike Thanksgiving but it isn’t Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is all about God and thanking him for the gifts of life, love, joy, and more. We get to see family and friends and we get to eat a great meal. But the central purpose should be to give thanks to God.

Thanksgiving is thus widely perceived as a time for family. An opportunity to reunite with loved ones, friends, and relations we haven’t seen for years. It’s some time off work, a break from school, the chance for an extended family weekend.

There is a several customs of Thanksgiving:

a)	Custom of Praying:

For centuries, 'Thanksgiving Day' is associated with communal prayers in church and in homes. People offer various meal time prayers during the day. It is a time, when mankind thanks God for all his blessings and grace. It is also a day to show gratitude to your friends and relatives for all the good deeds.

b) Custom of Family Dinner:

Everyone follows the custom of family dinner and reunion religiously every year. Distances don't really matter as relatives drive down to be with their family. Feasts are usually held at home. It is a time to enjoy their favorite 'Roasted Turkey' with the family.

c) Custom of Decoration:

Thanksgiving is a time to decorate homes with wreaths, fresh and dried flowers. People beautify their homes; give the interiors a whole new look and feel. They light lamps to brighten the environment. Tables are adorned with best china and antique silver cutlery to mark the occasion.

d) Custom of sending messages:

Thanksgiving is a day when people send loving messages and warm wishes to their relatives, colleagues at work place, superiors and subordinates, near and dear ones. It is a day of conveying their feelings through Thanksgiving cards.

There are the symbols of Thanksgiving:

a) Pumpkin: A modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is the customary 'Pumpkin Pie'. It is not sure whether pumpkin was one of the dishes in the first thanksgiving dinner. Pilgrims probably made a pumpkin dish sweetened with honey or syrup. They were however a part of all traditional meals long before the arrival of pilgrims. Pumpkin leaves were also used as salads. According to historians, other seasonal vegetables included squash. People at that time were not particularly fond of vegetables, they were mostly meat eaters. Pumpkins are a Thanksgiving favorite for about 400 years.

b) Turkey: The celebration of Thanksgiving will be incomplete without the legendary Turkey. It derives its name from the 'turk turk' sounds it makes when scared. Turkey was at one time being considered as the national symbol of America. Benjamin Franklin felt that turkey was the right choice because it was a good runner and had a sharp sight. A bald eagle later became the national symbol of America. Turkey is an inseparable part of Thanksgiving celebration.

c) Corn: Corn is one of the popular symbols of thanksgiving. It came in many varieties and colors’-red, white, yellow and blue. Some Americans considered blue and white corn sacred. It is said that Native Americans had been growing corn a long time before the pilgrims arrived in their country. The oldest corns date 7000 years back and were grown in Mexico. Americans taught pilgrims how to grow corn and help them survive the bitter winter of 1620. It is certain that corn were a part of the first thanksgiving dinner. The tradition continues and corn finds its place on every dinner table world over during thanksgiving dinner. Ornamental Corncobs are quite popular during the festival. They are used to decorate dining tables and make harvest wreaths- A popular gift item among Americans. Ornamental popcorns are also widely used. Corn reminds us of the importance and heritage of the famous harvest festival. It also remains America's foundation of 'Modern-Agriculture '. Corn was a part of first thanksgiving feast and is popular till date.

d) Cranberry: Cranberry is a symbol and a modern diet staple of thanksgiving. Originally called crane berry, it derived its name from its pink blossoms and drooping head which reminded the pilgrim of a crane. The name was later changed to what is popularly known as Cranberry. Pilgrims soon found out a way to sweeten the bitten cranberries with maple sugar. Ever since cranberry sauce is a permanent companion of turkey during thanksgiving feast. Cranberry sauce is turkey's favorite thanksgiving feast partner.

e) Beans: Beans are a special symbol of thanksgiving. Native Americans are believed to have taught the pilgrims to grow beans next to cornstalks. So that beans could grow and use cornstalks as their pole. Thus American beans are also known as 'Pole Beans'. Famously known as one of the 'Three sisters', beans are a part of thanksgiving feast.

f) Cornucopia: Cornucopia is the most common symbol of a harvest festival. A Horn shaped container, it is filled with abundance of the Earth's harvest. It is also known as the 'horn of plenty'. The traditional cornucopia was a curved goat's horn filled to brim with fruits and grains. According to Greek legend, Amalthea (a goat) broke one of her horns and offered it to Greek God Zeus as a sign of reverence. As a sign of gratitude, Zeus later set the goat's image in the sky also known as constellation Capricorn.

In Thanksgiving most people eat turkey, lobster, goose, deer meat, onions, pumpkin, corn bread, berries, roast duck, geese, clams, oyster, fish, Indian corn, chestnut, rabbit, chicken, squashes, bean, dried berries, stewed pumpkin, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie, or apple pie, etc.

These are some songs of Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens his will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant, And pray that thou still our defender wilt be. Let thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn (A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

We Give Thanks

Our Father in Heaven, We give thanks for the pleasure Of gathering together for this occasion. We give thanks for this food Prepared by loving hands. We give thanks for life, The freedom to enjoy it all And all other blessings. As we partake of this food, We pray for health and strength To carry on and try to live as You would have us. This we ask in the name of Christ, Our Heavenly Father. Harry Jewell

Bibliography:

1.	Heiligman, Deborah, Celebrate Thanksgiving. National Geographic Society. Washington D.C., 2006.

2.	Santella, Andrew, The First Thanksgiving. Children’s Press, a division of Scholastic Inc. USA, 2003.

3.	Hayward, Linda, The first Thanksgiving. Random house. USA, 1990.