Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

​Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in Canada and the United States. Read the article below about the holiday and answer the reading comprehension questions.

Thanksgiving is a holiday in the United States and Canada. It is to celebrate the harvest season and to give thanks for the food grown that year. In both countries, this holiday is a time to visit family and enjoy a Thanksgiving Day feast. This normally includes special foods, the most popular being turkey. Other common foods include potatoes, squash, and pumpkin pie. 

​The main difference between the holiday in Canada and the United States is the time. In Canada, Thanksgiving is in October, which means it is a time that summer is ending, the fall season is starting, and people are preparing for winter.

In the United States, the holiday is in November. Thanksgiving marks the start of the Christmas season, and the day after the holiday is the biggest shopping day of the year. This is called Black Friday. When Thanksgiving ends, Christmas begins as Americans get ready for the holiday season in December.

​In both countries, the holiday began with the European pioneers and their relations with the Native North Americans. This is why the image of the American Pilgrim is famous around Thanksgiving.

While the dates are not exactly known, Thanksgiving is believed to have started in 1578 in Canada and 1621 in The United States. 

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In Canada, the explorer Martin Frobisher held a feast to give thanks for a successful passage to the Pacific Ocean. Later, famous French explorer Samuel de Champlain organized a celebration for the harvest. In the United States, it is believed that the first celebration occurred in 1578 at Plymouth Rock, in what is now Massachusetts.

​Recent celebrations of Thanksgiving include spending time with family, eating traditional food, and watching football (American football). Considering it is a popular sport played during the fall and it is a traditional American sport, football is enjoyed by many Americans on Thanksgiving day. This includes both college and professional games around the country. In Canada, the professional Canadian Football League also holds two games. In the U.S., there is also a famous parade held in New York City.

Multiple Choice

Which country celebrates Thanksgiving earlier in the year?

• United States

• Canada

Multiple Choice

What does the word “feast” most likely mean?

• A popular holiday

• A big meal

• A traditional dance

• A type of food

Multiple Choice

Which country is believed to have celebrated Thanksgiving first?

• United States

• Canada

Multiple Choice

What do many Americans buy after Thanksgiving?

• Footballs

• Pumpkin pies

• Christmas gifts

Multiple Choice

Which is true for both Canada and the U.S.?

• Parades are common around the countries.

• Many people watch football.

• Thanksgiving is in the same month.