2021大学英语四级美文赏析：The History of Thanksgiving Day思维导图

IntheUnitedStates,thefourthThursdayinNovemberiscalledThanksgivingDay.Onthisday,Americansgivethanksfortheblessingstheyhaveenjoyedduringtheyear.Thanksgivingisusuallyafamilyday,celebratedwithbigdinnersandhappyreunions.ThefirstAmericanThanksgivingwasheldinPlymouth,Massachusettsin1621.In17thcentury,agroupofPilgrimsleftEnglandtoexploretheNewWorld.ItwasinSeptemberof1620whentheirshipcalledthe“Mayflower”leftportwith102men,women,andchildrenonboard.TheylandedinProvincetownharborafter65daysatsea.ThePilgrimswerepoorlytrainedandpoorlyequippedtocopewithlifeinthewilderness.Duringtheirfirstwinterinthenewland,theysufferedtremendously.Poorfood,hardwork,infectiousdiseases,andbitterlycoldweatherkilledabouthalfofthem.

Bytheendofthisterriblefirstwinter,onlyabout50remainedalive.Onespringmorningin1621,anIndianwalkedintothelittlevillageofPlymouthandintroducedhimselfinafriendlyway.Later,hebroughttheIndianchief,Massasoit,whogavegiftstothepeopleandofferedassistance.TheIndiansofMassasoit’stribetaughtthePilgrimshowtohunt,fish,andgrowfood.TheytaughtthePilgrimstousefishforfertilizerinplantingcorn,pumpkins,andbeans.BecauseofthishelpfromtheIndians,thePilgrimshadagoodharvest.GovernorWilliamBradfordwasfollowinganancienttraditionwhen,inthefallof1621,heissuedaproclamationestablishingadayofthanksgivingtoGod.

ThegovernoralsodecidedtousethisreligiousoccasiontostrengthenthebondoffriendshipbetweenthePilgrimsandtheirIndianneighbors.SoheinvitedChiefMassasoitandhisbravestosharetheThanksgivingfeast.TheIndiansgladlyacceptedandsentfivedeerahead.ThePilgrimmenwenthuntingandreturnedwithturkeyandotherwildgame.ThewomenofPlymouthprepareddeliciousdishesfromcorn,cranberries,squashandpumpkins.