Thanksgiving - It's today!

Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons.

The History of Thanksgiving
In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter. The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians. The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

Vocabulary
pilgrim (TRAVELLER) - a person who makes a journey, which is often long and difficult, to a special place for religious reasons pilgrimage noun. A pilgrimage is a special journey made by a pilgrim.

harvest - the time of year when crops are brought in, or the activity of collecting or the crops which are collected the wheat/potato/grape/apple harvest [C]We had a good harvest (of potatoes) this year. [C]

plenty - (the state of having) enough or more than enough, or a large amount
plentiful adjective Strawberries are plentiful (=there are a lot of them) in the summer.
wilderness noun [C usually sing] an area of land that has not been cultivated or had towns and roads built on it, esp. because it is difficult to live in as a result of its extremely cold or hot weather or bad earth.

appoint - to choose (someone) officially for a job or responsibility We've appointed three new teachers this year.

issue - (PRODUCE) to produce or provide (something official) a Local authorities will shortly issue street litter control notices. [T]The office will be issuing permits on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. [T]

....
Links:

http://www.theholidayzone.com/thanks/index.html

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving/printables.htm

http://www.history.com/minisites/thanksgiving/

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm

http://wilstar.com/holidays/thanksgv.htm