11月の第4木曜日はThanksgivingです。日曜日まで4連休となるところが大半だと思います。このホリデーには、家族が集まって秋の収穫をお祝いし、ターキーなどのお料理を頂くのが一般的のようです。秋の収穫だけではなく、家族や友達に感謝する意もあるようです。
そもそも、サンクスギビングとは、1620年にメイフラワー号に乗ってやって来たイギリス人入植者「ピルグリム・ファーザーズ Pilgrim Fathers」が、農作物の収穫に協力し、助けてくれた先住民（ワンパノアグ族 Wampanoag）たちに感謝し、お祝いしたのが始まりです。
そのお祝いに欠かせないお料理として、七面鳥（ターキー）の丸焼き、マッシュポテト、パンプキンパイ、クランベリーソース、スイートポテトなどがあります。
さて、サンクスギビング近くになると、普段バラバラに暮らしている家族がお祝いをするために集まりますので、人々の大移動が始まります。この頃は各空港は大混雑となり、さながら日本のお盆やお正月のようです。ご旅行の計画も、この連休は避けた方が良いかも知れません。
学校では、長男の1stGradeのクラスで、「Thanksgiving Feast」がありました。男の子は、ピルグリムの帽子を、女の子は緑のずきんをそれぞれかぶり、カフェテリアで特別メニューを頂きました。テーブルセッティングは、前もってボランティアの保護者が準備して、より一層、雰囲気を盛り上げました。
お食事を頂く前に、一人ずつ何に感謝をするか述べたあと、ターキーやマッシュポテトなどの伝統的なメニューを頂きました。
またこのFeastの前に、Thanksgiving由来のPlay（劇）がクラスルームでありましたが、当日、保護者は立ち入り禁止でしたので、セリフだけご紹介します。これを読むと感謝祭が行われた経緯がよくわかります。
The First Thanksgiving
Autumn 1620
- Reader 1
It was September 1620 when the Pilgrims said good-bye to their friends and families and left England. They sailed on a ship called the Mayflower to find a new home across the ocean. It was a difficult journey that lasted 66 days. - Pilgrim Chorus
We are the Pilgrims.
We hope to find a home
Where we'll be free to worship God
In a way that is our own. - Reader 2
On the land across the ocean lived the Wampanoag people and their friend Squanto. They were farmers, gatherers, and hunters. They watched quietly as the Pilgrims came to their shores. - Wampanoag Chorus
We are the Wampanoag,
"The People of the Dawn."
We thank the great Creator
For the gift of corn.
Winter 1620
- John Carver
I am John Carver, the governor of this new colony of Pilgrims. We are thenkful for the forest that gives us wood for houses and a warm fire. But it is winter now and our people are sick and starving. We pray for help.
Spring 1621
- Squanto
I am Squanto. Long ago, I was captured and sold as a slave. I was taken to England, where I learned the language. When I returned home, my people had all died from sickness. But the Wampanoag welcomed me. Many Pilgrims and their governor died last winter. Those who lived through the bitter cold need my help. I will show them how to live in this land. - Massasoit
I am Massasoit, leader of the Wampanoag. I will make peace with the strangers. We will promise to help one another. - Wampanoag Chorus and Pilgrim Chorus
We have a friendship treaty
That says we'll help one another.
The Wampanoag and the Pilgrims
Promise to live here as brothers. - Reader 3
Squanto stayed with the Pilgrims and taught them which wild plants, berries, and nuts were good to eat. He taught them how to fish. When spring came, he showed them how to plant corn and make it grow.
Autumn 1621
- Massasoit
I am Mistress Bradford, the new governor's wife. It is now autumn and the harvest is good. Governor Bradford has ordered a Thanksgiving feast. - Priscilla Mullins
I am Priscilla Mullins. We have prepared a Thanksgiving feast to feed ourselves and 90 Wampanoag. The Wampanoag brought us deer meat. We have cooked pigeon, duck, turkey, and fish. We'll have cornmeal cake, pumpkin, squash, cabbage and berries. - Reader 4
The Thnksgiving feast lasted three days. It had been a hard year for the Pilgrims, but their new friends had helped them survive. Together they celebrated peace and abundance. - Pilgrim Chorus
We are thankful for our friends
And for the gifts they brought us.
We are thankful for the harvest
And all that Squanto taught us.
