Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day, or simply Thanksgiving is a primarily American and Canadian holiday. Its main meaning is celebration of harvest, when the whole family and friends gather to spend some time together. This day is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. This day is deeply rooted in history and connected with the first European settlers who came on the famous Mayflower ship. On a cold November day they landed the territory of modern Massachusetts and founded the Plymouth colony. After a cold winter only a half of them survived, and those who survived were forced to seek help from Native Americans, who taught them how to grow plants and how to work the rocky land. An unexpectedly reach harvest was an award for those people's works and sufferings. In the fall of 1621 the settlers invited the chief of the Indian tribe that helped them to survive to share a meal with them. This event in history is considered to be the first celebration of the Thanksgiving Day. Afterwards this Day was celebrated by the colonists every year when they had rich crops. Although the holiday is somewhat religious in origin, today it is considered to be a largely secular festivity, although with centuries-long traditions. The tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving in the US is something very unique and doesn't exist in any other country. The whole family is usually gathered around one table and everyone is supposed to express his or her gratitude for everything that's happened in their lives.