Thanksgiving Day

They celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November in the USA and Canada. It’s really a harvest festival. The history of this holiday comes back to 1 621 when the Pilgrims, the first settlers of America, after the difficult winter had a good harvest the following year. The Indians helped them. In Massachusets the Pilgrims invited their Indian friends to join the festival. Since that time Americans and Canadians thank God and each other for the good on this day. It’s a special holiday for them.

 

the first settlers – перші поселенці

to join the festival – приєднатися до свята

Why do they celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

What kind of holiday is it?

 

Exercise 7. Is it true or false?

1. There are fewer public holidays in Great Britain than in other European countries.

2. The New Year’s Day is the most favourite holiday in Great Britain.

3. The people of Norway present the city of London a big Christmas tree.

4. Christmas is a family holiday.

5. The first man who comes into the house is very important

in Great Britain.

6. The First Foot brings salt, bread, a piece of coal and a coin.

7. St. Valentine’s Dayis the holiday of love and affection.

8. The symbols of love are red hearts and roses.

9. The favourite Halloween custom is to make a jack-o-lantern out of a pumpkin.

 

Exercise 8. Guess: What holiday is it?

1. This holiday is less favourite in Britain than Christmas. The first man who comes into the house on this day, is very important.

2. This is the holiday of love and affection. People send greeting cards and presents to those they love on this holiday: their husbands, wives or boyfriends and girlfriends.

3. You can expect to meet witches and ghosts that night. Children dress up in costumes and masks. They go out in the streets to beg: “Treat or trick.” People treat them: they give them sweeets and apples. If they don’t treat them, the children play trick on them.

4. All the family usually meet at the big holiday dinner of roasted turkey and delicious pudding. Everyone gives and receives presents on this holiday.

5. It’s really a harvest festival in the USA. Americans and Canadians thank God and each other for the good on this day. It’s a special holiday for them.

 

Exercise 9. Read and translate the text: