THANKSGIVING PILGRIMS English people September 6 1620 Mayflower

THANKSGIVING

PILGRIMS • • • English people September 6, 1620 Mayflower 66 day voyage 110 pilgrims Left from Plymouth, Settled in Plymouth

PILGRIMS • • • Religious freedom 2 month journey Long and hard winter Only 50 survivors Help from the indians – Squanto

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING • Indians and pilgrims come together to celebrate first successful harvest • Autumn of 1621 • Ate turkey, goose, duck, fish, fruits, berries • No pumpkin pie or potatoes

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING • George Washington- National day of Thanksgiving in 1789 (federal holiday) • President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of Thanksgiving • Thanksgiving declared a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln (1863) • Last Thursday in November

TURKEY • Most important Thanksgiving tradition

TURKEY • Interesting turkey facts: – Wattle is the part of the turkey that hangs under their beak. – The biggest turkey ever was 86 pounds (39 kilos) – North Carolina produces the most turkeys – 90% of American families eat turkey on Thanksgiving – Americans eat 535 million pounds of turkey every year at Thanksgiving time (242, 671 kilos)

THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS • Family and friends • Giving thanks • Turkey, potatoes, vegetables, pumpkin pie • Macy´s Thanksgiving day parade • Football • Preparing for Christmas

NATIONAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY PRESENTATION • President saves a turkey´s life • Turkey goes to Disneyland to Thanksgiving day parade