Origin and history of Thanksgiving

江西赣州中学 朱韵燕

To understand the origin and history of this day，we would need to go back almost 400 years to the year 1620.In that year，more than a hundred people who had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of England，sailed across the Atlantic Ocean，in order to settle in the New World （now known as Massachusetts）.These Pilgrims（清教徒）found it very difficult to live in this world，as they had arrived too late，and were unable to grow many crops to ensure their survival.Disaster struck，and half the colony（聚居人群）died from disease.It was only in the following spring，that the Indians taught them how to grow corn，fishing，and hunting.

Time went by，and the autumn of 1621 turned out to be a good harvest with plenty of crops of corn，beans，and pumpkins（南瓜）.The colonists now had plenty to be thankful for，and therefore，a feast was planned for which 90 Indians and the local chief were invited.The invitees bought deer， turkeys， and other wild game for roasting.The menu also covered several kinds of corn and popcorn.

This celebration continued in the following years.After the United States became an independent country，the Congress recommended that one yearly day should be celebrated as Thanksgiving Day by the entire nation.It was George Washington who suggested 26th November as the specific date for this celebration.When the bloody civil war finally ended in 1863，Abraham Lincoln asked all Americans to set aside the last Thursday in the month of November to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Facts

In the United States，Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November.

In Canada，it is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October.

Mayflower was the name of the Puritan ship that the Pilgrims sailed on，and large caskets of beer were carried on it for serving as a drink during the voyage time.

The first Thanksgiving feast was carried on for three days.

The first national Thanksgiving Day proclamation（公告）was issued by President George Washington in 1789，and was again issued in 1795.

On 3rd October，1863，Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation，which stated that the last Thursday of November was officially set aside for this tradition.

In 1827，Sarah Josepha Hale was an editor with a magazine，and she began a Thanksgiving campaign.Due to her efforts，the celebrations and prayers have been spread all across the nation，and even beyond.

译文助读

为了了解这感恩节的起源和历史，我们需要追溯到近四百年前的1620年。那一年，一百多人开始质疑英国国教会的信仰，他们横渡大西洋，在新大陆（现在的马萨诸塞州）定居。这些清教徒发现他们很难在这片大陆上生活，因为他们来得太晚，无法种植许多作物来确保他们的生存。灾难降临，一半的殖民者死于疾病。直到第二年春天，印第安人才开始教他们如何种植玉米、捕鱼和狩猎。

随着时间的流逝，1621年的秋天，殖民者收获了大量的玉米、豆类和南瓜。殖民者现在有很多要感谢的，因此，计划了一场盛宴，邀请了90名印第安人和当地酋长参加。受邀的人买了鹿、火鸡和其他野味来烤。菜单上还包括了几种玉米和爆米花。

在随后的几年里，这一庆祝活动继续进行。美国成为一个独立国家后，国会建议全国每年都庆祝感恩节。正是乔治·华盛顿提出把11月26日作为这次庆祝的具体日期。当血腥的内战终于在1863年结束时，亚伯拉罕·林肯要求所有的美国人留出11月的最后一个星期四来庆祝感恩节。

关于感恩节的事实

在美国，感恩节是在十一月的第四个星期四庆祝的。

在加拿大，十月的第二个星期一是庆祝日期。

“五月花号”是清教徒乘坐的清教徒船的名字，在航行期间，人们在船上装载了一箱箱啤酒作为饮料。

第一次感恩节盛宴持续了三天。

美国总统乔治·华盛顿于1789年发布了第一份全国感恩节公告，并于1795年再次发布。

1863年10月3日，亚伯拉罕·林肯发布了一份感恩节公告，声明11月的最后一个星期四被正式预留给这一传统。

1827年，萨拉·约瑟法·黑尔（Sarah Josep Hale）是一家杂志的编辑，她开始了一场感恩节运动。由于她的努力，庆祝和祈祷已经传遍全国各地，甚至更远。

Reading check

What is the essence of Thanksgiving Day in your eyes？