The Origin, Cultural Roots and Customs of Thanksgiving in the West

On the fourth Thursday in June, the American people celebrate their most important traditional folk festival-Thanksgiving Day. The festival begins at 162 1. That autumn, British immigrants who came to the United States across the ocean held a three-day carnival, thanking God for giving them a bumper harvest. Since then, this custom has continued and gradually became popular in various places. 1863, American President Lincoln officially declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday. At that time, family reunion and national celebration will be as grand and warm as the Spring Festival in China.

The origin of thanksgiving

The origin of Thanksgiving has something to do with religious disputes among Christians in Britain. From the end of16th century to the end of17th century, the English Puritans launched a fierce religious reform movement, announcing that they would leave the state religion and set up another church, and advocated eliminating the residual influence within the Anglican Church. However, in the middle of the17th century, the royalist parliament passed "Believing in the religion of the country", and the Puritans began to be brutally persecuted by the government and church forces, and were threatened with arrest, torture and religious trial all the time. Forced to do so, they had to move to the Netherlands to take refuge. However, it is difficult to live under the fence. In Holland, the Puritans not only failed to escape religious persecution, but also suffered from the pain and suffering brought by the war. What makes them unbearable is that in a foreign country, children can't stand "British education" and their feelings for their homeland are getting weaker and weaker. In order to escape from religious persecution completely and preserve the language and tradition of the motherland for the next generation, they once again thought of the great migration.

Although the world is big, where are these people who have fallen to the ends of the earth? After careful consideration, they turned their eyes to the United States. Columbus discovered this "new continent" more than 100 years ago, with a vast territory and rich products, and there are still many places without kings. No parliament, no executioner, undeveloped virgin land. "The sea is wide with diving, and the sky is high." Only in such a place can they live easily, freely believe and spread their favorite religion, and open up a paradise on earth belonging to Puritans.

So Bradford, the famous leader of Puritans, gathered 65,438+002 companions. In September, 65,438+0620, he boarded a wooden sailboat, may flower, weighing 65,438+080 tons and 90 feet long, and began the adventure voyage of Columbus exploration. This romantic ship is too small to sail. Due to the situation, they "chose" the worst crossing season of the year. However, with a bright vision for the future, in order to get back the lost rights and freedoms, this group of people who have suffered a lot have despaired.

The sea is very stormy and the waves are very high. Mayflower is like a leaf in a storm, drifting forward with difficulty, and is in danger of sinking and dying almost at any time. However, with the concerted efforts of Qi Xin, the ship did not encounter any damage. After 66 days of sailing, it arrived at Cape Cod in North America on165438+1October 2 1 day, which is the port of provine, Massachusetts, USA today. After a short rest, Mayflower continued along the coastline. Due to headwind and jet lag, it failed to reach its intended destination-Jamestown, Virginia. Instead, it sent them to the land of New England on the first day after Christmas.

Interestingly, only one of all the explorers died in this dangerous expedition. However, due to the birth of a baby during the trip, the number of people arriving in the United States is still 102. Immigrants are devout believers, all with their hands crossed, and sincerely thank God for his care.

Now, in front of them, it is a completely strange land, and the winding coastline looks quiet and desolate. Therefore, within about a month, the immigrants did not dare to land rashly and still took the boat as their home. In the meantime, they sent a reconnaissance team to look for a settlement along Cape Cod Bay by boat. One day, while everyone was waiting anxiously, the reconnaissance team came back to report that they had found a "paradise" really suitable for immigrants to live in. "Paradise" is today's Plymouth Harbor, which is a natural harbor and is very suitable for Mayflower berthing. There is an excellent fishing ground near the port, which can provide a lot of seafood. Not far away, a rolling hill, like a natural barrier, surrounds this land. In the bright sunshine, the cold stream reflects the glittering and translucent luster, which can provide enough fresh water for immigrants. The cultivated fertile fields are neatly arranged one by one. In addition, they also saw a dilapidated house, but it was enough to shelter them from the wind and rain and help them through the severe winter ... as if everything could not be better. The only thing that puzzles them is that in this land full of human lives, there is not a figure, not a wisp of smoke, and it looks so desolate, as if it were prepared for them in advance. Later, I learned that this was once a very prosperous Indian village. A few years ago, flowers prevailed, and no one in the village was spared, which became the best refuge for this group of exotic drifters.

A few days later, may flower crossed Cape Cod Bay and anchored at Plymouth Harbor. When immigrants landed by boat, according to the ancient sailing tradition, they first climbed a big stone towering above the sea. Salute roared on the Mayflower, and people were buzzing, celebrating the beginning of a new life. Later, this reef was called "Plymouth Stone" and became the historical witness of the first permanent colony in New England.

However, for these immigrants who are eager for happiness, the first winter is not beautiful. The cold wind blowing from the Atlantic screamed in the air like a devil, and the snow and ice all over the sky beat the simple houses mercilessly. In this world of ice and snow, immigrants lack the necessary equipment and experience to live in this land. Under the heavy pressure of busy work, many people are exhausted, sick, poor diet and unbearable cold, which makes more people fall to the ground. Infectious diseases followed, claiming many lives. A winter passed, and I came to America through difficulties and obstacles.

102 immigrants, only 50 left. People die almost every day, and one or more families are holding funerals almost every day. The joy of setting foot on this land for the first time is gone. Everyone's heart is shrouded in an unprecedented atmosphere of despair. A dream, a beautiful dream that has just begun, is it broken like this? Everyone is thinking.

Just as the immigrants were helpless and waiting for death, one morning the following spring, an Indian walked into Plymouth village. He introduced himself, saying that he was sent by an Indian chief from a neighboring village to inspect the situation. This is the first guest received by immigrants after they came to the United States. They poured out their stories and untold sufferings to their guests. The Indian listened quietly, showing infinite pity and sympathy on his face. Things have turned around. A few days later, Indian Ann took his chief Massasod into the immigrant's house. The director is a generous and enthusiastic person. He extended a warm welcome to the immigrants and gave them many necessities as gifts. The most experienced and capable Indians were sent to teach immigrants how to live in this land and teach them skills such as fishing, hunting, farming and raising turkeys.

It was a good year, and with the guidance and help of Indians, the immigrants got a bumper harvest, finally overcame the difficulties of life and lived a stable and prosperous life. In this autumn, Bradford, who has become the governor of Plymouth, held a grand ceremony to thank God for his decision. This is the first Thanksgiving in history. Of course, he didn't forget the "God" who really helped immigrants solve their problems-the hospitable and clever Indians, and specially invited Massasod and his Indians to attend the festival celebration.

Indians readily accepted the invitation and sent five deer as gifts in advance. 165438+1One day at the end of October, the immigrants held a big banquet, and the table was filled with game from the mountains, as well as delicious food made of corn, pumpkin, bamboo shoots and turkey. The celebration lasted for three days. During the day, the host and guest held a banquet and talked about friendship. In the evening, there was a blazing spring fire on the grass. In the cool autumn wind, Indian boys and young people in Plymouth colony danced, sang, wrestled and shot arrows together, and the atmosphere was very warm.

Today, in the eyes of Americans, Thanksgiving is more important than Christmas. The first is a four-day holiday, which is enough for people to celebrate. Secondly, it is also a traditional day for family reunion. During Thanksgiving, it has become a national custom for scattered families to rush home for the holidays. Besides, the most important meal for Americans in a year is Thanksgiving dinner. In the United States, a fast-paced and competitive country, the diet on weekdays is extremely simple. The popular world of American fast food is a good example. But on Thanksgiving night, every family has a big meal, and the richness of goods is staggering. From the president to the common people, turkey and pumpkin pie are essential foods on the holiday table. These two "treasures" reflect the American people's memories of their ancestors' hardships and the first Thanksgiving. Japanese mood. Therefore, Thanksgiving Day is also called "Turkey Day".

Although Thanksgiving Day is a time for family reunion, thousands of people still take time to visit Plymouth Harbor and relive American history during the festival every year. Today, not only Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, but Canadians also regard it as a routine holiday. This may be because there are many descendants of British immigrants living in this vast land of Canada!