Thanksgiving Quiz

READ THE TEXT BELOW AND THEN DO THE QUIZ TO CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What is Thanksgiving?

We’ve all heard about Thanksgiving and seen the celebrations in films and sitcoms, but what exactly is Thanksgiving and how is it celebrated? Thanksgiving is a harvest festival and one of the most popular holidays in the United States.  It was established as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War and it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.  It marks the beginning of the holiday season, the weeks leading up to Christmas, Hanukah and the winter solstice.

To a large extent, the holiday is about having a feast where the main course is turkey that has been filled with stuffing and roasted in the oven.  It is usually served with yams, squash, pumpkin pie and other rich foods which results in one being truly stuffed.  There is a huge focus on the food to be prepared and eaten for this day, but it is also an important day for family and friends to get together around the table to eat the food and give thanks for the past year.

It is said that Thanksgiving has its roots in the first meal the pilgrims from Europe shared with the Native Americans, who had taught the pilgrims how to survive in the new world, showing them the crops to grow, etc.  This feast was said to go on for three days and included a plethora of food, which is reflected in the symbol of Thanksgiving: a cornucopia or horn of plenty.

The concept behind the holiday of showing thankfulness by having a feast spans many cultures. In Canada, they hold their Thanksgiving day on the second Monday in October.

Although Thanksgiving has strong religious connotations there has been a move away from its roots, and other popular Thanksgiving activities have emerged.  It is quite common for big football games to be played on this day, and for many families watching the game whilst preparing the meal is an important part of the celebration. Alternatively, many other families choose to go for a walk in the crisp autumn air whilst the turkey cooks.

The day after Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season since 1952 and there are clear links between Thanksgiving and the Santa Clause parades popular in US cities.  Parades celebrating Thanksgiving often include an appearance by Santa with the promise that Christmas is ‘just around the corner’ as it is the next major holiday following Thanksgiving.

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, marks the beginning of retailers’ busiest season. Black Friday is not an official holiday in the United States but in many states it is observed in lieu of another federal holiday, and so for many people it gives them a four-day weekend and increases the number of potential shoppers.  For retailers Black Friday is perhaps the highest point of the Christmas shopping season which they mark by offering big discounts and promotions, making it the busiest shopping day of the year.