ThefourthThursdayinNovemberiscalledThanksgivingDay.Onthisday,familiesandfriendsgathertogether,shareameal,andgivethanksfortheblessingsofgoodhealth,food,jobs,andfamilies.

　　In1620,agroupofPilgrimsleftfromEnglandtosearchforreligiousfreedom,partofwhomwereProtestants.AndtheysailedtoAmericaonasmallsailboatnamedtheMayflowerfinally.AndtheylandedatwhatisnowPlymouth,Massachusetts,inicyNovember.Thepriceinhumanlivesandtragedyhadbeengreat.

　　Ontheotherhand,theysawnewhopeforthefuture.ThefirstofficialThanksgivinginAmericatookplaceinPlymouthcolony,MassachusettsinOctober1621.Thanksgivingdidnotbecomeanationalholidayuntil1863duringtheAmericanCivilWar.

　　IntheUnitedStates,thanksgivingdinnerispracticallythesamealloverthecountry.Thetableisalwaysloadedwithdeliciousfoodofmanydifferentkinds.Naturally,themaincourseisturkey(abirdnativetotheAmericans),withanarrayofvegetablesanddesserts.Pumpkinpieisoftenservedinremembranceofthefirstsettlers.