165438+ The fourth Thursday in October is Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is an ancient festival created by the American people, and it is also a festival for Americans to reunite with their families, so Americans always feel very cordial when they mention Thanksgiving.
The most authentic and American national holidays in the United States are closely related to the early history of the United States.
1620, some believers took may flower to the United States to seek religious freedom. After two months of turbulence at sea, they finally landed in the cold 1 1 month in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
In the first winter, more than half of the immigrants died of hunger and infectious diseases, and those who survived began to sow in the first spring, namely 162 1. They have been eagerly looking forward to the harvest all summer, knowing that their survival and the existence of the group will depend on the upcoming harvest. Finally, the crops got an unexpected harvest. In order to thank God for the bumper harvest, a three-day carnival was held. Since then, this custom has continued and gradually became popular in various places. 1863, American President Lincoln declared the fourth Thursday of 1 1 month as Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving celebrations have been held on this day until now. At that time, family reunion and national celebration will be as grand and warm as the Spring Festival in China.
The pattern of Thanksgiving celebration has not changed for many years. Preparations for a big family dinner began months ago. People can eat apples, oranges, chestnuts, walnuts and grapes on the dining table, as well as raisin pudding, minced meat pie, various other foods, cranberry juice and fresh juice. Among them, roast turkey and pumpkin pie are the most wonderful and attractive dishes and have always been the most traditional and popular food at Thanksgiving.
Everyone agrees that roast turkey must be the main course of Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey should be baked with bread as stuffing to absorb the delicious juice in the middle reaches, but cooking techniques often vary from family to family and region, so it is difficult to agree on what stuffing to use.
The origin of thanksgiving
The origin of Thanksgiving has something to do with religious disputes among Christians in Britain. From the end of16th century to the end of17th century, the English Puritans launched a fierce religious reform movement, announcing that they would leave the state religion and set up another church, and advocated eliminating the residual influence within the Anglican Church. However, in the middle of the17th century, the royalist parliament passed "Believing in the religion of the country", and the Puritans began to be brutally persecuted by the government and church forces, and were threatened with arrest, torture and religious trial all the time. Forced to do so, they had to move to the Netherlands to take refuge. However, it is difficult to live under the fence. In Holland, the Puritans not only failed to escape religious persecution, but also suffered from the pain and suffering brought by the war. What makes them unbearable is that in a foreign country, children can't stand "British education" and their feelings for their homeland are getting weaker and weaker. In order to escape from religious persecution completely and preserve the language and tradition of the motherland for the next generation, they once again thought of the great migration.
Although the world is big, where are these people who have fallen to the ends of the earth? After careful consideration, they turned their eyes to the United States. Columbus discovered this "new continent" more than 100 years ago, with a vast territory and rich products, and there are still many places without kings. No parliament, no executioner, undeveloped virgin land. "The sea is wide with diving, and the sky is high." Only in such a place can they live easily, freely believe and spread their favorite religion, and open up a paradise on earth belonging to Puritans.
So Bradford, the famous leader of Puritans, gathered 65,438+002 companions. In September, 65,438+0620, he boarded a wooden sailboat, may flower, which weighed 65,438+080 tons and was 90 feet long, and began the adventure voyage of Columbus exploration. This romantic ship is too small to sail. Due to the situation, they "chose" the worst crossing season of the year. However, with a bright vision for the future, in order to get back the lost rights and freedoms, this group of people who have suffered a lot have despaired.
The sea is very stormy and the waves are very high. Mayflower is like a leaf in a storm, drifting forward with difficulty, and is in danger of sinking and dying almost at any time. However, with the concerted efforts of Qi Xin, the ship did not encounter any damage. After 66 days of sailing, it arrived at Cape Cod in North America on165438+1October 2 1 day, which is the port of provine, Massachusetts, USA today. After a short rest, Mayflower continued along the coastline. Due to headwind and jet lag, it failed to reach its intended destination-Jamestown, Virginia. Instead, it sent them to the land of New England on the first day after Christmas.
Interestingly, only one of all the explorers died in this dangerous expedition. However, due to the birth of a baby during the trip, the number of people arriving in the United States is still 102. Immigrants are devout believers, all with their hands crossed, and sincerely thank God for his care.
Now, in front of them, it is a completely strange land, and the winding coastline looks quiet and desolate. Therefore, within about a month, the immigrants did not dare to land rashly and still took the boat as their home. In the meantime, they sent a reconnaissance team to look for a settlement along Cape Cod Bay by boat. One day, while everyone was waiting anxiously, the reconnaissance team came back to report that they had found a "paradise" really suitable for immigrants to live in. "Paradise" is today's Plymouth Harbor, which is a natural harbor and is very suitable for Mayflower berthing. There is an excellent fishing ground near the port, which can provide a lot of seafood. Not far away, a rolling hill, like a natural barrier, surrounds this land. In the bright sunshine, the cold stream reflects the glittering and translucent luster, which can provide enough fresh water for immigrants. The cultivated fertile fields are neatly arranged one by one. In addition, they also saw a dilapidated house, but it was enough to shelter them from the wind and rain and help them through the severe winter ... as if everything could not be better. The only thing that puzzles them is that in this land full of human lives, there is not a figure, not a wisp of smoke, and it looks so desolate, as if it were prepared for them in advance. Later, I learned that this was once a very prosperous Indian village. A few years ago, flowers prevailed, and no one in the village was spared, which became the best refuge for this group of exotic drifters.
A few days later, may flower crossed Cape Cod Bay and anchored at Plymouth Harbor. When immigrants landed by boat, according to the ancient sailing tradition, they first climbed a big stone towering above the sea. Salute roared on the Mayflower, and people were buzzing, celebrating the beginning of a new life. Later, this reef was called "Plymouth Stone" and became the historical witness of the first permanent colony in New England.
However, for these immigrants who are eager for happiness, the first winter is not beautiful. The cold wind blowing from the Atlantic screamed in the air like a devil, and the snow and ice all over the sky beat the simple houses mercilessly. In this world of ice and snow, immigrants lack the necessary equipment and experience to live in this land. Under the heavy pressure of busy work, many people are exhausted, sick, poor diet and unbearable cold, which makes more people fall to the ground. Infectious diseases followed, claiming many lives. A winter has passed, and only 50 of the 65,438+002 immigrants who came to the United States through difficulties and obstacles remain. People die almost every day, and one or more families are holding funerals almost every day. The joy of setting foot on this land for the first time is gone. Everyone's heart is shrouded in an unprecedented atmosphere of despair. A dream, a beautiful dream that has just begun, is it broken like this? Everyone is thinking.
Just as the immigrants were helpless and waiting for death, one morning the following spring, an Indian walked into Plymouth village. He introduced himself, saying that he was sent by an Indian chief from a neighboring village to inspect the situation. This is the first guest received by immigrants after they came to the United States. They poured out their stories and untold sufferings to their guests. The Indian listened quietly, showing infinite pity and sympathy on his face. Things have turned around. A few days later, Indian Ann took his chief Massasod into the immigrant's house. The director is a generous and enthusiastic person. He extended a warm welcome to the immigrants and gave them many necessities as gifts. The most experienced and capable Indians were sent to teach immigrants how to live in this land and teach them skills such as fishing, hunting, farming and raising turkeys.
It was a good year, and with the guidance and help of Indians, the immigrants got a bumper harvest, finally overcame the difficulties of life and lived a stable and prosperous life. In this autumn, Bradford, who has become the governor of Plymouth, held a grand ceremony to thank God for his decision. This is the first Thanksgiving in history. Of course, he didn't forget the "God" who really helped immigrants solve their problems-the hospitable and clever Indians, and specially invited Massasod and his Indians to attend the festival celebration.
Indians readily accepted the invitation and sent five deer as gifts in advance. 165438+1One day at the end of October, the immigrants held a big banquet, and the table was filled with game from the mountains, as well as delicious food made of corn, pumpkin, bamboo shoots and turkey. The celebration lasted for three days. During the day, the host and guest held a banquet and talked about friendship. In the evening, there was a blazing spring fire on the grass. In the cool autumn wind, Indian boys and young people in Plymouth colony danced, sang, wrestled and shot arrows together, and the atmosphere was very warm.
Today, in the eyes of Americans, Thanksgiving is more important than Christmas. The first is a four-day holiday, which is enough for people to celebrate. Secondly, it is also a traditional day for family reunion. During Thanksgiving, it has become a national custom for scattered families to rush home for the holidays. Besides, the most important meal for Americans in a year is Thanksgiving dinner. In the United States, a fast-paced and competitive country, the diet on weekdays is extremely simple. The popular world of American fast food is a good example. But on Thanksgiving night, every family has a big meal, and the richness of goods is staggering. From the president to the common people, turkey and pumpkin pie are essential foods on the holiday table. These two "treasures" reflect the American people's memories of their ancestors' hardships and the first Thanksgiving. Japanese mood. Therefore, Thanksgiving Day is also called "Turkey Day".
Although Thanksgiving Day is a time for family reunion, thousands of people still take time to visit Plymouth Harbor and relive American history during the festival every year. Today, not only Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, but Canadians also regard it as a routine holiday. This may be because there are many descendants of British immigrants living in this vast land of Canada!
A woman named Sarah Josepha Hale is the editor of a women's magazine. She has an idea that the whole country should celebrate the first Thanksgiving every year. She wrote many letters about it-to the president, the governor and the newspaper. Finally, President Lincoln heard about her idea and liked it. Lincoln designated Thanksgiving as a national holiday, and it has continued to this day.
Thanksgiving food
Thanksgiving began in the autumn of 162 1, involving British immigrants who came to the United States by may flower. In order to thank God for the bumper harvest, a three-day carnival was held. Since then, this custom has continued and gradually became popular in various places. 1863, American President Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday. At that time, family reunion and national celebration will be as grand and warm as the Spring Festival in China. On Thanksgiving Day, the whole country in America is very lively. Dress parades, cultural performances and sports competitions are held everywhere in urban and rural towns, and schools and shops are also on holiday as required. Children also imitate the Indians in those days, wearing strange costumes, painting faces or wearing masks to sing and play the trumpet in the street. There were also many people in the church that day. According to custom, people should pray for gratitude here. America has been used to living independently since childhood. Go your separate ways. On Thanksgiving Day. They always try to get back from all over the world, and the whole family sits around, munching delicious turkey and chatting about the past, which makes people feel particularly cordial and warm. People far away from home are invited as guests. People also send food to those unfortunate people. Some local institutions, schools and churches collect food first, then put it in food baskets and distribute it to the poor. Some shopkeepers also send turkeys to employees and some regular customers.
It is worth mentioning that Thanksgiving food is very traditional. Every Thanksgiving, America has a fat turkey to eat. Turkey is the traditional main course of the festival. It used to be a wild bird living in North America, which became delicious poultry after being raised in large quantities, each of which could weigh 40 to 50 kilograms. In some places, there are pig farms, which are specially filmed for people before Thanksgiving. Interested people can spend some money on pig farms and get some wild turkeys home. Make the festival more interesting. There is also a certain emphasis on how to eat turkey. It needs to be roasted whole, the chicken skin is roasted to dark brown, and its stomach is stuffed with a lot of miscellaneous food such as broken bread. After serving, the host cut it with a knife and distributed it to everyone. Then everyone poured marinade and sprinkled with salt, which was very delicious.
Besides turkey, Thanksgiving food also includes cranberry jam, sweet potato, corn, pumpkin pie, homemade bread, and various vegetables and fruits. These things are traditional food for Thanksgiving.
There is also an old corn game. It is said that this is handed down to commemorate the issue of five corn to each immigrant in the case of food shortage. During the game. People hid five corn in the house, and everyone looked for it separately. Five people who found corn took part in the competition, while others watched. At the beginning of the competition, five people quickly peeled corn kernels in a bowl, and whoever peeled them first won the prize. Then people who didn't take part in the competition guessed around the bowl how many corn kernels were in it, and the prize for the closest guess was given to a careless popcorn.
Roasted turkey is an indispensable dish on the traditional Thanksgiving table. In some big hotels, you can buy an authentic roasted turkey for three or four hundred yuan, including traditional side dishes such as Chinese cabbage, mashed potatoes, dough and sour apples. If it is not a family dinner for many people, you can buy half of it, or buy processed turkey slices with bread, milk, eggs, chestnuts and other baked food slices in the middle, as is popular. That wonderful taste is indescribable, and you can only feel it by personal experience. Besides tasting delicious turkey in restaurants, we can also do DIY food at home and cook delicious Thanksgiving turkey ourselves.