Home | Technology | Tutors Guide | Lesson Plans | Activities | Links | Contact Us

Holidays

Advance Level

Unit 1: Video And Photograph

A Quote

Time for work - yet take much holiday for art's and friendship's sake.

- George James de Wilde

Idioms About Holidays

If it's a national holiday or if you are traveling overseas, it's very likely that you'll also hear one of these common idioms been used.

1) Heart skips a beat - to be completely surprised, with joy or fright. My heart skips a beat every time I look at a sunset. 2) Have a whale of a time - to have an exciting time. We had a whale of a time when we went on holiday to Disneyland.

The Origin and Meaning of Idioms The end of the Line The oldest transportation bus service in the U.S, Greyhound Buses, had finally reached the end of the line. They are expected to lay off staff and cut down services into rural America. This idiom is believed to have dated back to the mid 1800's when railway track construction was at its peak. Trains would travel along these tracks into newly settled areas until they could travel no further. At that point the train was said to have reached the end of the line.

Unit 2: Reading

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in America that is celebrated every November. It is a time when many Americans remember their Christian tradition, a time of year when many people drive hundreds of miles to visit their families and celebrate thanksgiving together. It's also a time when families hold a feast consisting of stuffed turkeys, sweet cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and delicious indian corn. The story behind Thanksgiving Day is as old as the tradition itself.

The first settlers sailed to America in 1620, fleeing religious persecution from their native homeland in England. These early settlers, known as Pilgrims, came to America to start a new life and to freely practice their religion. However when the settlers arrived it was already late in November, too late to gather food or to plant crops for the coming winter. About half of the settlers died during that first winter period, many had survived because of help from the native Indians living nearby. The Indians taught the Pilgrims how to catch fish and plant corn. After the first crops was harvested the following winter, Governor William Bradford, decided to proclaim a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the colonists. The pilgrims decided to dedicate their feast to honor God and to thank their Indian neighbors.

The custom of holding a thanksgiving meal continued year after year. It was not until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving, despite the civil war and turmoil that was going on in the country. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, a message to inspire all Americans.

Because of work commitments many Americans live far away from their parents. However, every year, on the 4th Thursday of November, many Americans would return home to reunite with their parents and to celebrate thanksgiving together. Prior to Thanksgiving Day, the roads are usually crowded as many people would drive home to visit their families.

Thanksgiving Day is not only celebrated in America, but also in many other parts of the world. The custom of celebrating it may vary from country to country, but the meaning of thanks giving remains the same - to take time to reflect on the blessings God has bestowed upon us and to be thankful for all that we have.

Vocabulary Practice

persecution: To ill-treat someone, usually on the basis of their race or religion.
Pilgrim: a person who travels into a foreign land.
Harvest: The yield from ripen crop.
colonists: A group of people who settle into a new country, but who still depend on their homeland.
turmoil: A violent disturbance or upheaval.
Proclamation: a formal public statement.
bestow: To present or give.

Questions

1. What is meant by thanksgiving?
2. How did the new pilgrims survive the winter?
3. What do Americans do on Thanksgiving Day?