Question

1.What is the origin of the Thanksgiving Day? 2.What were the circumstances of this holiday? 3.What does the holiday dinner include? 4.Who proclaimed this national holiday? 5.What is the spirit of this day?

Answer 1

1.Что происходит в День благодарения?
По старинной традиции несколько поколений одной семьи собирается в доме старших на праздничный обед.
According to the old tradition, several generations of one family gather in the senior house for a festive dinner.
2. Каковы были обстоятельства этого праздника?
Каждый произносит слова благодарения за всё то хорошее, что произошло в его жизни.
Everyone says a word of thanksgiving for all the good things that happened in his life.
3. Что включает праздничный ужин?
Едят в этот день современные американцы то же самое, что ели их предки в далёком 1621 году на первом обеде в честь Дня благодарения.
Today Americans eat the same things that their ancestors ate in the distant 1621 at the first dinner in honor of Thanksgiving.
4. Кто объявил этот национальный праздник?
Первый губернатор колонистов У. Брэдфорд предложил провести день принесения благодарности Господу. 
The first governor of the colonists, W. Bradford, offered to spend the day of giving thanks to God.
5. Каков дух сегодняшнего дня?
В Нью-Йорке проходит грандиозный парад, организуемый крупнейшим универмагом Macy’s с 1927 года.
In New York is a grand parade, organized by the largest department store Macy's since 1927.

Answer 2

1. Origin of Thanksgiving Day: The origin of Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims, English settlers who arrived in North America on the Mayflower in 1620. The Pilgrims settled in what is now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Facing a harsh winter, they struggled with disease and lack of food. With the help of the Wampanoag Native Americans, who taught them vital agricultural skills and provided food, the Pilgrims were able to survive and prosper.

2. Circumstances of this holiday: The circumstances leading to the first Thanksgiving in 1621 were of gratitude and celebration for the successful harvest after a challenging year. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came together to express their thanks for the bountiful harvest and their newfound friendship.

3. Holiday dinner: The traditional Thanksgiving dinner typically includes a roast turkey as the centerpiece, accompanied by stuffing or dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, and various other vegetables. Additionally, dinner might include dinner rolls or biscuits, and pies (such as pumpkin pie and pecan pie) for dessert.

4. Proclamation of the national holiday: The proclamation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday is attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. On October 3, 1863, during the American Civil War, Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. This established Thanksgiving as an annual holiday in the United States.

5. Spirit of this day: The spirit of Thanksgiving is primarily one of gratitude and coming together with family and friends. It is a time to reflect on the blessings and abundance in one's life and to appreciate the harvest, the goodness, and the positive aspects of the year. Many people take the opportunity to express their thanks and share a meal with loved ones. It is also seen as a time for charity and helping those who are less fortunate, as the holiday season approaches.