in November. Many people take a day off on Friday
to make four-day weekend, and they may travel long distances to visit friends and relations because Thanksgiving is a special family occasion.
The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts, in their search for religious freedom. After a terrible winter, in which nearly half of the Pilgrims died, they turned for help to the Native Americans, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next autumn’s harvest was wonderful, and the Pilgrims gave thanks by having a feast.
Thanksgiving dinners always include some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their good fortune, and for being together for the occasion.
The contents