Culture Lesson: Thanksgiving in USA

Today, 22nd Novemer 2012, is Thanksgiving in America. What do you know about this special holiday? Read through this article on why Thanksgiving is celebrated paying attention to the missing words.

Thanksgiving in USA

Thanksgiving is observed on the every fourth Thursday of November. It is _1_ big family celebration with people travelling from all over the country to be with their family and friends.

The holiday is celebrated _2_ remembrance of the pilgrims and in order to give thanks. The event that some Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated _3_ the pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World _4_ 1621. By Autumn of 1621 only half of the pilgrims, who had sailed _5_ the Mayflower, survived. The Native Americans taught them how to grow their food after their first crops failed. The surving pilgrims, thankful to be alive, decided to give a thanksgiving feast.

The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, and was attended _6_ 53 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans.

To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie.

Television also plays a part in Thanksgiving celebrations. Many families watch the New York City Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade includes marching bands, floats, songs and performances _7_ Broadway musicals, and giant balloons! People may also enjoy televised football games.

Thanksgiving Vocabulary

Pilgrims -  the name given to the religious group who left England for America in 1620.
Harvest - the fruits, vegetables and grains that are gathered during harvest season.
Mayflower - the name of the boat that the pilgrims sailed on.
Native Americans - the orginal inhabitants of America who were there before the Europeans arrived.
Turkey - a large bird that is eaten. Traditionally eaten on Christmas Day in many countries.

Now choose the correct words needed to complete the text:

• Missing word 1 is:
  
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• Missing word 2 is:
  
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• Missing word 3 is:
  
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• Missing word 4 is:
  
  at
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• Missing word 5 is:
  
  to
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• Missing word 6 is:
  
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• Missing word 7 is:
  
  by
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