Read the text and decide if the statements are true or false.
Thanksgiving
The history of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving combines the traditions of different groups of people. Travellers and migrants brought different religious traditions from Europe to the United States and Canada. Several celebrations are thought to be the first Thanksgiving. The best known is the celebration held by the pilgrims in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts after their journey across the Atlantic Ocean on the famous Mayflower ship. Like the pilgrims, many groups had days of prayer to give thanks for successfully making the long boat journey. Later, settlers celebrated their successful harvest in a new land by holding feasts with their Native American neighbours. Over time, the Canadian and American traditions have become similar and developed into the modern holiday of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving today
In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In the United States, it is on the fourth Thursday in November. Although it used to be religious, today, Thanksgiving is a largely secular holiday. For most Americans and Canadians, it is a day for coming together with family and friends to share a large meal. It is an occasion to spend time with loved ones and express gratitude for the year that has passed. In many houses, there is a tradition of everyone seated at the table sharing what they are most grateful for.
Thanksgiving food
Thanksgiving is also about food. Thanksgiving dinner traditionally includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and, for dessert, apple, pumpkin or pecan pies. Every family has its own recipes, sometimes secret recipes handed down through generations.
Turkey, a bird native to North America, is the unofficial symbol of Thanksgiving, with roast turkey on the menu and turkey decorations on the wall. In the United States, a tradition of gifting turkeys to the President has more recently turned into a humorous turkey ‘pardoning’. At this light-hearted ceremony, the President gives an official pardon for one or two turkeys, saving them from being cooked for supper.
More than food: football, parades and traffic jams!
Beyond food and gratitude, there are some unexpected sides to the American and Canadian holiday. One of these is football. This popular sport is an important part of the holiday when families gather around to cheer on local or national teams. American football and Canadian football are both similar to rugby, played not with the feet but with the hands.
Parades are another common part of the festivities. In the United States, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place in New York City on the morning of Thanksgiving. It’s one of the world’s largest parades and is broadcast nationwide. A similar Thanksgiving parade happens in Canada as part of the Kitchener – Waterloo Oktoberfest, a multi-day autumn festival.
Unfortunately, heavy traffic is also common at Thanksgiving. In both countries, the week of Thanksgiving is one of the most popular travel times of the year, as everyone heads home to visit their family. So try to avoid any road trips if you’re visiting North America during this holiday!

• Группы
  • TRUE
  • FALSE
• Варианты
  • Thanksgiving was first celebrated by European settlers in North
    America.
  • The American President kills two turkeys every year.
  • Only Americans play and watch football during Thanksgiving.
  • Modern Thanksgiving celebrations are very religious.
  • The main part of Thanksgiving is the preparation and sharing of a big
    meal.
  • At many Thanksgiving celebrations, everyone tells the group what they
    are most thankful for.