The passengers - a group of British Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution in their homeland. They embarked on such a dangerous journey in the hope to establish a colony in the New World, where they could finally acquire the coveted freedom. Beach, who landed on the British, and later they called New England, after his abandoned homeland. At the end of the voyage, before go into uncharted land, ship passengers signed a document, known as the "Agreement on the" Mayflower ", which the American historiography attaches crucial importance as the beginning of constitutional government, based on American life and the manifestation of the inner freedom of the spirit, which brought religious dissidents.
The first year in a new location has been very severe. Soon frosts struck and people began to suffer hunger and deprivation. Half the Pilgrims fell seriously ill and died that winter. In the spring the survivors to make friends with the Indians, who taught them how to grow corn and pumpkins, catching wild turkeys, to distinguish edible from poisonous plants, there is a spring with drinking water, hunting trails and fishing spots.
His first crop of settlers gathered in the early autumn. In his honor they held a big celebration, which invited their fellow Indians. The feast was delayed for several days, during which everyone enjoyed the roast turkey, pumpkin and corn. The second summer in a new place was not so good, and the third and did dawned dry. Then Governor William Bradford pilgrims appointed a day of fasting and prayer, and soon after it began to rain. To celebrate this wonderful event, and was set Thanksgiving Day.
For a long time was an unofficial holiday in New England. Only in 1777 the Continental Congress declared the official national celebration of Thanksgiving Day in December. George Washington in 1789, proclaimed this holiday national event and upon request of the Congress set a date - November 26, Thursday. In his interpretation of it was Thanksgiving Americans to its constitution. But fully the national holiday of Thanksgiving began in 1863, during the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln declared that from now on the fourth Thursday of November is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day. The final transfer of the holiday on the last Thursday of November took place in 1939 thanks to the decree of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which the president gave the citizens of their country two extra days of rest.
Thanksgiving - a family holiday, family and friends come from all over the country, to sit at the same table, laden with traditional food. This is - certainly turkey, sweet potatoes, yams with beaten floral sauce, cranberry sauce, stuffing of rusks cubes with spices, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and gravy. If someone left without a dinner party, it will invite charities. The president himself on this day helps feed the homeless, the poor and the elderly, imposing them on plates generous portions. The head of state must show the country an example of charity.
Another holiday tradition - turkey pardoning ceremony, which is held in the White House since 1947. In keeping with this tradition at least one turkey is to avoid the fate to be on the holiday table.
The founder is considered to be the custom of President Harry S. Truman (1945-1953). However, mandatory annual turkey pardoning ceremony was in 1989, when George HW Bush (1989-1993). The next president, Bill Clinton (1993-2001), also spared the birds, but the scope of a special National pardons turkey purchased at W. Bush (2001-2009). In particular, the birds began to settle in expensive hotels and transport by plane in first class.
Turkey pardoning ceremony for the National Federation of turkey supplies manufacturers (National Turkey Federation). A few months before the ceremony is taken 30 birds whose candidacy is then put up for a vote on the White House Web site. These turkeys specially prepared for honorable mission - to hand feed and taught not to be afraid of strangers.
On the eve of Thanksgiving Day, US president at a special ceremony show the two most worthy representatives of the family turkey - actually a "national turkey" and her deputy - "Vice-turkey." The first will be officially pardoned, and the second - decorate a festive dinner at the White House.
Duty "Vice-turkey" is also to replace the bird number one in the case of illness or premature death. For example, in 2008, the bird called Pecan (Pecan) on the eve of the ceremony was ill, and in the Rose Garden at the White House received a pardon bird-mate pumpkin (Pumpkin). During the ceremony the President read out a decree pardoning and gently stroked the bird alarmed. She was later sent to the zoo, where she lived to old age.
In 2009, US President Barack Obama in the company of daughters Malia and Sasha for the first time took part in a ceremony to pardon the turkey. Participating escaped being eaten turkey Courage (Courage). Ruhamah turkey, like its predecessor, was sent after the ceremony to Disneyland, located in California, where the Day of Thanksgiving has become "the great marshal" parade. After the Thanksgiving turkey was left on life-long maintenance at Disneyland. In 2007, Ruhamah turkey was sent to a "Disneyworld" in Orlando, in 2006 - in the "Disneyland", located in Anaheim. Already more than one century there is a tradition of writing songs for the Day of Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day he decided to organize parades, mostly costume, dressed in costumes of the XVII century and the Indians.
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