Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an important part of the American culture.
It is important for American people to give "thanks" in general for the good things they have in their lives.
It is also an old religious tradition.

  

 Food plays a crucial part in the celebration as you can see in these wonderful paintings from Norman Rockwell.

"Freedom from want" - Norman Rockwell

Turkey and pumpkin pies are traditional meals that most American people share with family and friends.

However catching the turkey isn't always easy!

The American Thanksgiving has a long history that goes back to the first European immigrants that went to live in America.

They were called the "pilgrim fathers" because they immigrated to escape religious persecutions.
They arrived on board of the Mayflower and they landed on the territory of the Wampanoag Indian tribe and made friend with them.

The tradition says in 1621, the British colonists invited the Indians to a big feast of thanks for the good harvest of the year.

"The First Thanksgiving" (1915), by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (American painter, 1863-1930).

However, it is important to remember the British colonists were not very thankful to the Indian tribes in general and after years of conflicts between Europeans and Indians, most of the Indian population was eradicated.

You can learn about the history of Thanksgiving in this video.