The history of Thanksgiving day

(by Monica Vincent)

The last Thursday in November, as you know, is a holiday in America. People call this holiday Thanksgiving Day. It is perhaps the most important day in the American year. People go to church, and families come together for the day. They decorate their houses with the fruits and flowers of autumn and prepare traditional American food: roast turkey, potatoes and pumpkin. It's rather like Christmas, but what are people celebrating? What are they giving thanks for?

Do you remember the first colonists in New England? In 1620 they came to America and began a new life there. It was a very hard life. The colonists started to farm the land. The work was difficult and full of danger. In New England, the place where they lived, there were many wild birds. They were like chickens but much bigger. They were turkeys. In the autumn of 1621 the colonists had their first harvest. It was rather good. The colonists decided to have a special dinner. They wanted to thank God to give him their thank for many things. It was a difficult year, but the people still had food to eat. The colonists had thanksgiving dinner for all the people. It lasted three days.

Wild turkeys were on the table of this meal, and since then the turkey has become a symbol of Thanksgiving Day.

 

Найдите правильные и неправильные предложения:

1. Thanksgiving Day is a British holiday.

2. Thanksgiving Day is the most important day in the American year.

3. People celebrate this holiday in offices.

4. They eat bacon and eggs to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

5. Thanksgiving Day is rather like Christmas.

6. Since 1621 turkey has become a symbol of Thanksgiving Day.

 

3. Прочитайте текст и придумайте свой рассказ о каком-либо обычае:

RUSSIAN TRADITIONS

People in Russia have their own special traditions. One of them is Maslenitsa – the holiday, which lasts for a week, to say "goodbye" to winter. People celebrate it at the end of February or at the beginning of March. During this holiday they celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. In old times people usually cooked pancakes, had fires, burnt straw scarecrows of winter, they sang songs and danced.

Now during “Maslenitsa week” people always cook pancakes. They invite their friends, their nearest and dearest to see each other and eat pancakes with sour cream, fish, caviar or butter, sugar, honey.

Though different countries have different traditions and holidays, people all over the world know some of them. They are – Easter, Christmas and New Year.

 

4. Переведите диалог на русский язык:

HALLOWE'EN PARTY

Olga: Alice, it can be a stupid question, but I'm afraid I don't know much about Hallowe'en. What is it like?

Alice: I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Such parties are usually great fun. People dress up in strange costumes and pretend they're ghosts and witches.

Olga: Oh… are you sure I'm going to like it? It sounds very unusual.

Alice: Don't be silly, we'll play games and dance and laugh a lot. And you know what, when the party is over, we'll put on white sheets and knock on our neighbours' doors asking if they would like a “trick” or “treat”.

Olga: Trick or treat? What do you mean?

Alice (laughing): Nothing dangerous. If they give us a treat – some sweets, nuts or cakes – we'll say "thank you" and go away. But if they don't we'll play a trick on them.

Olga: What? A trick? What shall we do?

Alice: We'll make a lot of noise and throw flour on their front doorstep!

Olga: Wow!

Alice: But can you help me to get ready for the party?

Olga: Of course I will. What shall I do?

Alice: We'll cut an ugly face in a pumpkin and put a candle inside. It will shine through the eye holes. Then we'll take the pumpkin to the party to decorate

the hall.

Olga: How interesting! I've never heard about this holiday before. We don't have it in Russia.

Alice: You just wait! On the 5th of November I'll take you to see Guy Fawkes!