In the language of Molière, we would call it “Jour des actions de grâce.” In this case, English has ultimately taken precedence over French: here in France, just as in the United States, we refer to it as “Thanksgiving,” the iconic holiday of Uncle Sam Country that our friends across the Atlantic are celebrating today! Whether or not you are lucky enough to be on a language study program in the U.S., these few lines should be of interest to you!
Massachusetts, the birthplace of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day in its original form, is celebrated every year in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. The holiday, as you may learn during your language study trip to the U.S., dates back to 1621. In fact, a year earlier, the Pilgrims landed in America on the Mayflower; they would go on to found the town of Plymouth in Massachusetts.
The Origins of Thanksgiving
But the early days were difficult for the settlers, many of whom would not survive in these new lands. The luckiest among them owed their survival to the help of the indigenous people, who taught the newcomers the skills of fishing, hunting, and farming in this New World, and provided them with the food they needed to survive.
Discover local customs during your language study trip to the U.S.
To celebrate the first bountiful harvest, a holiday was established specifically to honor this spirit of generosity. Today, families and friends gather for a meal featuring the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Most businesses, schools, and other public institutions are closed on this day. You’ll discover the rest for yourself during your language study trip to the U.S.!