What are the customs of Thanksgiving?

Every year, the fourth Thursday of November is the traditional Thanksgiving Day in the United States. In the minds of Americans, Thanksgiving is second only to Christmas in importance. The main customs of Thanksgiving Day are as follows:

1, into the church thanksgiving prayers scourge

Every Thanksgiving Day, the United States of America up and down the country is very lively. Towns and cities everywhere in costume parades, theatrical performances and sports competitions, schools and stores are also required to take a vacation to rest. Children also imitated the appearance of the Indians dressed in strange and bizarre costumes, painted faces or masks to the street singing, blowing the trumpet. The church was also very crowded on that day, and it was customary for people to say a prayer of thanksgiving here.

2, eat turkey

Thanksgiving food is very traditional. Every Thanksgiving, the United States and Canadians will have fat and tender turkey to eat. Turkey is the traditional main dish of Thanksgiving. European immigrants to the Americas, the appearance of the turkey and Turkey "body black head red" clothing characteristics are very similar, so they called them "Turkey" (Turkey). 1947 President Truman's administration added a presidential turkey release ceremony. Ceremony. This tradition actually dates back to the time of President Abraham Lincoln, when his son, Tad, burst into the Cabinet Room one day in 1863 and asked for a pardon for a pet turkey named Jack. The turkey was sent to the White House because it was about to become a Thanksgiving meal. 2007, November 20, President Bush in the annual turkey release ceremony, the two turkeys released were called "May" and "Flower". Together, their names mean the Mayflower, the ship on which the Pilgrims came to the New World.

3. Food Delivery

Since the 18th century, there has been a custom in the United States of sending baskets of food to poor people. At the time, a group of young women wanted to choose a day of the year to dedicate to good deeds and thought it would be most appropriate to pick Thanksgiving. So when Thanksgiving came around, they filled a basket full of food and delivered it to the poor in person. The story spread far and wide, and soon many people followed their example.

4, set the table

The Thanksgiving table is also very unique. Instead of the usual flowers, the housewives put fruits and vegetables. The center is often a large pumpkin, around the pile of apples, corn and dried fruit. Sometimes the apples or pumpkins were hollowed out and filled with shelled dried fruit or candles were lit. Normally, the hostess could let her guests into the parlor after the meal, but not on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving gatherings are sweet, and everyone is willing to stay around the table a little longer as they eat and reminisce pleasantly about old times until the last candle is lit.

5. Games

After the Thanksgiving feast, some families used to do some traditional games, dances, competitions, etc. Some of them have been passed down to this day. Some of these have been passed down to this day.

6. Cranberry Race

A large bowl with cranberries is placed on the floor, and 4 to 10 contestants sit around it, each given a needle and thread. Competition began, they first wear needle and thread, and then the cranberry string up one by one. 3 minutes, who string the longest, who will win the prize. As for the slowest person, they jokingly gave him a prize for being the worst.

7, corn game

It is said that this is to commemorate the year in the scarcity of food issued to each immigrant five corn and handed down. During the game, people hid five corn in the house, by everyone to split up to find, find the corn of the five people to participate in the game, others on the sidelines to watch. When the game begins, the five people quickly peel the kernels of corn in a bowl, and whoever finishes first wins the prize. Then the people who did not participate in the competition gathered around the bowl to guess how many kernels of corn inside, the closest number of guesses to the prize for popcorn.

8, pumpkin race

competition with a small spoon to push the pumpkin to run, the rule is that you can not touch the pumpkin, the first to the end of the award. The smaller the spoon used for the race, the more interesting the game is, often causing everyone to laugh.

Besides these activities, some families spend the holiday driving to the countryside or traveling by plane, especially to Plymouth Harbor, where the settlers made their homes. There, you can see the Mayflower replica and the Plymouth Rock, and spend a few hours touring the village. The village is modeled after what it was like back in the day. During the tour, there are special staff dressed as Puritans to talk with visitors, giving people the feeling of being there.