Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, a different date every year.
- falls on = cai (em tal dia)
The first Thanksgiving feast in the United States was held by the Pilgrims and the Indians, who got together to thank the Lord for their first harvest in the New World. (It’s an interesting story. I’ll tell it to you one of these days.)
- held by = realizado (festa, evento, etc.) por
- Pilgrims = Peregrinos
- got together = se reuniram
- harvest = colheita
- one of these days = um dia desses
Abraham Lincoln (the 16th president of the United States) proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day holiday in 1863.
Today, Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated and traditional holidays in the United States. Érico Veríssimo in his book “Gato Preto em Campo de Neve” expressed his surprise at how they even took a Thanksgiving meal to American soldiers on the front line during World War II.
It is a special day set aside to give thanks to God for His bountiful blessings.
- set aside, phrasal verb = separado
- give thanks = dar graças
- bountiful = abundantes e generosos
Families usually eat a special meal together and do some, or all, of the following activities.
TOP THANKSGIVING DAY TRADITIONS
Here are some things Americans do on Thanksgiving Day:
1. Decorate with “Indian _______” and _________ and other harvest and fall themes.
- harvest = colheita
- fall = outono
2. See a Thanksgiving Day ___________ .
3. Get _________ with family and friends.
4. Eat a Thanksgiving Dinner (sometimes called a _________ Dinner).
5. Someone _________ the Turkey.
6. Give ________ for all God’s blessings.
7. Watch an “important” (american) _________ game on TV.
Answers: 1. corn – squash; 2. Parade; 3. together; 4. Turkey; 5. carves; 6. thanks; 7. football
A THANKSGIVING DAY MEAL
1. turkey and ____________
2. mashed potatoes and _______
3. ___________ sauce
4. candied _________ potatoes
5. _________ corn
6. green bean ___________
7. white bread ________
8. ___________ pie
Answers: 1. stuffing; 2. gravy; 3. cranberry; 4. sweet; 5. baked; 6. casserole; 7. rolls; 8. pumpkin
WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.. What are you thankful for?
Pelo que você é grato?
Please tell us about it below.
Thank you very much for this activity, Tim! I’ll use it with my students! We’re going to celebrate this tradition next Thursday, because, unfortunately, they had decided it to do it too late. Or I can say in such short notice? :o) and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!!
That’s great, Patricia! It doesn’t matter when you celebrate it, as long as you take the opportunity to pause and be thankful for all God’s blessings.
And when I say “they”, I mean “the Language School I work for”! :o)
I’m thankful for my health, my life and for my prayers that to be listened by the Lord, concerning the animals life, don’t sacrifice them anymore. Our mother “GAIA” providing us with plenty food, from natural resources coming from the ground.
I just wanted to
say that I’m deeply thankfuk for your help.
Is arriving the Thanksgiving Day in United States.
I feel happy for you all American. you all are faithful, and this do the difference.
So Happy Thanksgiving day to you !
Thank you, Dirceu! Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving to you, too! Many blessings!
I am thankful for my job, my family, my health. I am thankful for God to have put you,Tim and Tammy on my way, you have helped me a lot.
Thank you for that exercise! It will be helpfull in my classes, my students will love it, sure!
God bless all us!
Thank you, Renilda! I am so thankful for your being a part of our project here! I hope your students liked the exercise.
I’m thankful for all the conquest I’ve made this year. I’m thankful for my family, my life, and mainly God in my life. I give thanks to the One!
You’re right, Renata! He’s the one we should defintely thank for all our bountiful blessings!
Tks teacher !
I really love free classes by site.. RW
See you !
Thank you for stopping by and saying hello, Guilherme! See you in class! 😉
On Thanksgiving and always, I’d like to Thank the almighty GOD for all blessing I have received. I am thankful for my children, my wife and last but not least, my very good friends the Barrets family!!May God bless you, Tim, and all your family !!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
And I am thankful for faithful friends like you who have stuck with us all these years, Anderson! God bless you and your dear family!
I am thankful for having a wonderful online teacher like you, and for having food on my plate every day. I am thankful for living in a democratic country (Spain), where the healthcare and welfare state is worthy.
Those are great reasons to be grateful, Vera! Especially about the online teacher! 😉