Thanksgiving Around the World
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in different parts of the world with various traditions and customs. In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November as a day of giving thanks and sharing a meal with family and friends. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October. Other countries such as Brazil, Grenada, and Liberia also celebrate Thanksgiving but with different dates and unique customs. For instance, in Brazil, it is known as Dia de Ação de Graças, and it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November with a traditional feast. In Grenada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in October with a harvest festival and a procession. In Liberia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of November as a national holiday.
A. The meanings of some of the words from the text are given below. Find the words and write against the correct meanings.
a. in a way occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or study intermittently
b. to remind people of an important event or person from the past commemorate
c. in a way that shows the usual qualities or features of a particular type of person or thing typically
d. a curved shape that is wide in the middle and pointed at each end crescent-shaped
e. full of life and energy vibrant
f. a person who is having fun in a noisy way, usually with a group of other people reveller
g. from or in another country; seeming exciting and unusual exotic
h. to spread through and be easy to notice pervade
i. brightly coloured and likely to attract attention flamboyant
j. done quickly and with a lot of activity, but not very well organized haphazardly
B. The following events represent different activities observed during Thanksgiving around the world. Study them carefully and write the names of countries where they are celebrated.
a. Families gather for a feast in the evening accompanied by dancing and singing. – Libaria
b. People wear new clothes and get community blessings. - Iran
c. Palm nut soup, fish and traditional Kpokoi are served. – Ghana
d. People return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival.- South Korea
e. Celebrants go to the beach in a noisy way. – Brazil
f. Parades are taken out in the streets. - USA
g. Food and wine are offered to the forefathers. – South Korea
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What is the main feature of American Thanksgiving?
The main feature of American Thanksgiving is a large meal, traditionally consisting of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, among other dishes. It is typically celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November and is a time for families and friends to come together and give thanks for their blessings.
b. What do parades include in Thanksgiving in America?
Parades in Thanksgiving in America typically include floats, marching bands, performers, and huge balloons, based on cartoon characters, current Broadway shows and other typical themes.
c. When and why is Chuseok celebrated in Korea?
Chuseok is celebrated in Korea in late September or early October. It is a three-day harvest festival that is one of the country's most important holidays. The festival is celebrated to give thanks for the year's bountiful harvest and to pay respect to one's ancestors.
d. How did Thanksgiving begin in Brazil?
Thanksgiving began in Brazil when former Brazilian President Gaspar Dutra visited the USA and was fascinated with the holiday. He established the festival in Brazil in 1949.
e. Who started Thanksgiving in Liberia? Why was it started?
Liberated American slaves started Thanksgiving in Liberia in the 19th century. It was started to give thanks for their freedom and new life in Liberia. f. What is Thanksgiving celebrated in Barbados for? Crop Over (thanksgiving) is the festival that is celebrated in Barbados for marking the end of the sugar cane harvest season.
g. What is Homowo marked in Ghana?
In Ghana, the Homowo festival is marked to celebrate the end of a long famine suffered by the Ghanaians.
Grammar Il
Rewrite the following sentences choosing the correct alternative from brackets.
a.Sujita asked her mother ……….. (when her father would come home, when will her father come home, when might her father come home).
Sujita asked her mother when her father would come home.
b. She replied that she had never had caviar when I said to her, " ……………..caviar?" (Have you ever had, Will you have, Would you have)
She replied that she had never had caviar when I said to her, "Have you ever had caviar?"
c. The salesperson said to him, "What …………….for you?" (I can do, can I do, I could do)
The salesperson asked him, "What can I do for you?"
d. The tourist inquired from me ………………. to Banepa. (whether I belonged, whether I would belong, whether I am belonging)
The tourist inquired from me whether I belonged to Banepa.
e. The little girl asked us what time ………………..to come back. (were we supposed, we were supposed, we had been supposed)
The little girl asked us what time we were supposed to come back.
f. The head teacher asked her ………………….. the exam form the week before. (whether she had filled out, whether she fills out, whether had she filled out)
The head teacher asked her whether she had filled out the exam form the week before.
g. Renuka asked me …………….. her. (if I have called, if I had called, if had I called)
Renuka asked me if I had called her.
B. NIhar Chaudhary interviewed her Social Studies teacher last week. Here is the report prepared by her after the interview. Read it carefully and list out direct questions asked by Nihar.
Direct questions asked by Nihar:
a. Can you tell me about the Newari tradition known as Ihi?
b. Why is the ceremony of Ihi performed?
c. Who is Suvarna Kumar?
d. Why was the Ihi tradition started?
e. What age group of girls are married during the Ihi ceremony?
f. Why is it known as Bel Bibaha?
g. Why was Bel chosen as a witness during the ceremony?
h. How long does the ritual of Ihi go on for?
i. What are the dietary restrictions during the ceremony?
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