Instructions
Read the information below about the history of Thanksgiving. Answer the questions and complete the activities that follow. Use complete sentences where required.
History of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving originated in the early 17th century when English Pilgrims settled in America. In 1621, the Pilgrims shared a harvest meal with the Wampanoag people, celebrating the successful harvest after a difficult year. This event is often considered the first Thanksgiving. Over the years, Thanksgiving became a time for families to gather, reflect, and give thanks for their blessings.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the second-to-last Thursday to extend the holiday shopping season, but this was met with public disapproval. In 1941, Congress declared Thanksgiving to be held on the fourth Thursday in November, where it remains today.
Questions
1. Who were the first people to celebrate Thanksgiving and with whom did they celebrate?
2. In what year did Abraham Lincoln declare Thanksgiving a national holiday?
3. Why did Franklin D. Roosevelt change the date of Thanksgiving in 1939?
Activities
4. Imagine you were at the first Thanksgiving feast. Write a short paragraph describing what you might see, hear, and feel during this event.
5. Create a list of three things you are thankful for this year and explain why.
Reflection
6. What does Thanksgiving mean to you, and how do you plan to celebrate it this year?