Thanksgiving ( p.65-74 ) p.II

It’s interesting...

Turkey Trivia.

• Americans eat over 75 million turkeys each year, most of them at Thanksgiving time.
• A male turkey is called a tom. A female is called a hen. Young turkeys are poults.
• Turkey eggs are twice as big as chicken eggs.
• The turkey is native to North and South America - the only kind of poultry that is.
• A wild turkey can fly up to 55 miles per hour.
• The largest turkey can weigh up to 50 pounds.

Facts About the Natives

- The Native Americans who came to the thanksgiving feast at Plymouth were members of the Wampanoag (wam-puh-NO-ag) nation. Chief Massasoit, their leader, arrived at the feast with 90 of his people. The Wampanoag smoked their pipes, tasted English cooking, and presented a dance to the Pilgrims.

- Wampanoag men living near Plymouth wore deerskin aprons in warm weather. In cold weather, they wore deerskin leggings, moccasins, and mantles. They often wore an eagle feather in their hair.

- Wampanoag women wore deerskin dresses and moccasins. Their long hair was worn braided. Jewelry was made of shells, and coats were made of deerskin or beaver fur.

- The Wampanoag moved several times during each year in order to get food. In the spring they would fish in the rivers for salmon and herring. In the planting season they would move to the forest to hunt deer and other animals.

- They respected the forest and everything in it as equals. Whenever a hunter made a kill, he was careful to leave behind some bones or meat as a spiritual offering, to help other animals to survive.  Not to do so would be considered greedy.

- Squanto (SKWAN-toe), the man who came to help the Pilgrims and who could speak English, was originally from the village of Patuxet (Pa-TUK-et). Patuxet once stood on the exact site where the Pilgrims built Plymouth. In 1605, Squanto went to England with a friendly English explorer named John Weymouth. He had many adventures and learned to speak English. Squanto came back to New England with Captain Weymouth. Later Squanto was captured by a British slaver who raided the village and sold Squanto to the Spanish in the Caribbean Islands. A Spanish Franciscan priest befriended Squanto and helped him to get to Spain and later on a ship to England. Squanto then found Captain Weymouth, who paid his trip back to his homeland. In England Squanto met Samoset, who had also left his native home with an English explorer. They both returned together to Patuxet in 1620. When they arrived, the village was deserted and there were skeletons everywhere. Everyone in the village had died from an illness the English slavers had left behind.

One year later, in the spring, Squanto and Samoset were hunting along the beach near Patuxet. They saw people in their deserted village. For several days they stayed nearby observing the newcomers. Finally they decided to approach them. Samoset walked into the village and said, “Welcome!” Squanto soon joined him.

This traditional Thanksgiving hymn, based on a Netherlands folk hymn, was translated by Theodore Baker (1851 - 1934) 

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord blessing:

He chastens and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to his name: He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, was at our side, all glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,

And pray that thou still our defender will be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Amen!

Following, is a song traditionally performed by American school children during the Thanksgiving Holiday in November. This song originally appeared as a poem written by Lydia Maria Child in Flowers for Children, vol.2 in 1844.

A Boy’s Thanksgiving Day

Over the river and through the wood,

to Grandmother’s house we go;

the horse knows the way

to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the wood,

to Grandfather’s house away!

We would not stop

for doll or top,

for ‘tis Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood-

when Grandmother sees us come,

she will say, “Oh, dear,

the children are here,

bring a pie for everyone.”

Over the river, and through the wood-

now Grandmother’s cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun!

Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Источник: http://englishaz.narod.ru