mudada para cair na segunda segunda-feira do mes de outubro. OS PEREGRINOS Durante as oracoes de Acao de Gracas, e costume lembrar os peregrinos que criaram a festividade. Trata-se de um grupo de imigrantes puritanos da Holanda e da Inglaterra. Esses puritanos, compostos em sua maioria por agricultores, faziam parte de uma ala conservadora da igreja protestante formada no inicio do seculo 17. Acreditando que a Igreja da Inglaterra estava se afastando dos preceitos estabelecidos pela reforma, eles resolveram criar uma comunidade que viveria exclusivamente segundoos textos sagrados do cristianismo. Em 1617, eles decidiram migrar para a America por causa da grande influencia dacultura europeia sobre seus filhos e pelas dificuldades economicas da epoca.Traducao para o inglesThe ThanksgivingThe Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States on WednesdayThursday of November and its conclusion is perhaps moresignificant than Christmas.According to tradition, the first day of American Thanksgiving happenedin 1621, between the English colonists (pilgrims) who had founded thePlymouth Colony, Massachusetts. The party was made along theWampanoag tribe members, guests of the settlers.In a gesture of kindness, the Indians brought food to the English.But there is no evidence that the participants of the celebration hadthought of it as a celebration of thanks.Only in 1789, the idea of then president George Washington, the date isbecome holiday.While the first festival date of the seventeenth century, its origin probablycomes the harvest festivals that were traditional in many parts ofworld since the ancient age.Long before Europeans settle in North America,Eastern Europe were already celebrated the harvest festivals.In the British Isles, on the 1st of August is celebrated the wheat harvest.If the harvest was not good, the holiday was canceled.Another important precursor Day Thanksgiving was the customEnglish Protestants who had to choose special dates to thankthe divine graces.This, however, did not happen regularly, they made these celebrationsin times of crisis or after a bad period has passed.These celebrations were serious religious occasions and little resembledthe current parties.Currently, the festival is a celebration of home, family-centered and home.Public demonstrations have shows and parades.TRADITIONS OF THE PARTYMany of the traditions associated with Thanksgiving Day comes from ancientcustoms of autumn harvest celebrations.For example, a basket full of food symbolizes abundance of foodthese times.Many communities decorate their churches with fruits and flowers, as well ashappened for centuries in autumn crops in Europe. By doinga party centered on the preparation and consideration of a large meal,keeps up the idea of the celebration of plenty.In celebration of Thanksgiving, people, regardless of their religion,thank all that were able to gain during the year. Familiesand friends gather and celebrate eating local dishes.The turkey is the most famous of them. In 2001 alone, 267 million turkeys were raised and about 90 million of them will be part of the supper of Americans that date.Beyond the bird, people eat sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn and pumpkin pie.The parade is always the case in New York ends withappearance of Santa Claus.It marks the beginning of Christmas.Charities serve meals to the poor and send basketsfood for the elderly and sick.IN CANADAThe Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated in Canada.As the country is