Thanksgiving, a Traditional American Holiday

November 29, 2014 18:38 UTC USA Thanksgiving, a Traditional American Holiday

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Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. The month of November comes in autumn, the main season for harvesting crops. Thanksgiving is an autumn harvest festival like those found in many cultures. Today the holiday is a time of family reunions, parades and watching football games on television. And, oh, yes, food! For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving is a day spent cooking, eating and spending time together. The writer O. Henry called Thanksgiving the one holiday that is purely American. It is not a religious holiday. But it does have a spiritual meaning. Some Americans travel long distances to be with their families. They eat a large dinner, which is the main part of the celebration. For many people, Thanksgiving is the only time when all members of a family gather together. The holiday is a time of family and family reunions. The government says the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for long-distance travel. This is when people usually return from gatherings. Thanksgiving is all about family and food But let’s get back to the food. The star of the Thanksgiving meal is the turkey! Roasted turkey is the main dish in a traditional American Thanksgiving meal Roasted turkey is the main dish in a traditional American Thanksgiving meal This large bird roasts in the oven all morning. The smell of celery, onion and herbs fill the house and makes everyone hungry. Two traditional side dishes are mashed potatoes and sweet potato casseroles. And there is another -- stuffing -- a bread-and-vegetable mixture that is literally stuffed into the turkey and then baked. While people cook the Thanksgiving meal and talk with family members and friends, others might be watching American football games on television. Two American traditions, Thanksgiving Day parade and football Over the years, Americans have added this tradition to their Thanksgiving celebrations. A number of football games are played on Thanksgiving Day. Another tradition is the television broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Spiderman balloon in Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 28, 2013. The Spiderman balloon in Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 28, 2013. The parade takes place every year in New York City. Employees of the Macy's store on Herald Square organized the first parade in 1924. Many of the workers were immigrants and wanted to hold a big parade like the ones in Old World Europe. So they dressed in special costumes and borrowed some animals from the zoo. They also carried small balloons that floated just overhead. And then sometime in the afternoon, the dinner table is set. It is time for what everyone has been waiting for. Dinner is served! Some families have more than one dinner table at Thanksgiving. Children may eat together at their own table. Usually, the people who are invited to dinner belong to the same family. But anyone can bring a friend. In fact, many Americans live far away from family members. So, getting together at Thanksgiving is not always possible. Many people in this situation have a dinner party and invite their friends who are also without family for the holidays. Serving those less fortunate It is important to remember that the United States is home to many poor and homeless people. They cannot buy a Thanksgiving dinner or spend the holiday with friends and family. All across the country, religious and service organizations provide holiday meals for older adults, the homeless and the poor. Richard Brown (L) is hugged by volunteer Jane Johnson during Thanksgiving meal served to the homeless in 2013 Richard Brown (L) is hugged by volunteer Jane Johnson during Thanksgiving meal served to the homeless in 2013 Whether you are eating with family and friends or serving meals to the homeless, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. Before the meal begins, it is traditional for everyone to say a few words about what they are most thankful for. I’m Anna Matteo. Happy Thanksgiving! ______________________________________________________________ Turkey Fun Facts According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 253 million turkeys were raised from January 2013 through September 2014. An estimated 46 million turkeys were raised in the state of Minnesota alone. You can buy a turkey from the store or directly from a turkey farm. Buying a turkey directly from a turkey farm costs more because they are raised in pastures and without the use of antibiotics. The average 16-pound turkey costs about $21.65 in 2014. This is slightly less than it cost in 2013. A more recent Thanksgiving tradition is the U.S. President pardoning a turkey -- or saving it from being killed. Jerri Watson wrote this story. George Grow edited it. The production music is titled “The Holly and the Ivy” and is not available for redistribution.

November 23, 2014 22:51 UTC
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Latin America Catholics Converting to Protestants 

In this July 27, 2013 file photo, Pope Francis waves to people from his popemobile in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Latin Americans who were born into Roman Catholic families have increasingly left the faith for Protestant churches, while many others have dropped organized religion altogether in a major shift in the region’s religious identity, according to a survey released Thursday Nov. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

Latin American Catholics Converting to Protestants

 Almost 40 percent of the world’s Catholic population, about 425 million people, lives in Latin America. In 2013, for the first time in history, a Latin American, Pope Francis, became head of the Catholic Church.

But a recent study from the Pew Research Center says people in Latin America have increasingly lost faith in the Catholic Church. The study looked at religious beliefs and practices in 18 countries in South and Central Americas and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

A significant number of people are switching from Catholicism to Protestantism. Experts say that from 1900 to the 1960s, at least 90 percent of Latin Americans were Catholic. But the new Pew study suggests that membership in the Catholic Church has decreased as much as 20 percent. Members of God's Assembly attend a Pentecostal service in September 2014.Members of God's Assembly attend a Pentecostal service in September 2014.

Members of God's Assembly attend a Pentecostal service in September 2014.

Most new Protestants are members of Pentecostal denominations. Pentecostals believe in what they call “gifts of the Holy Spirit.” These gifts include things like divine healing and exorcism-- the practice of forcing an evil spirit to leave a certain place or a person’s body. Many say they have seen or experienced a sudden cure from illness or injury by a divine healing. Another of these gifts is ‘speaking in tongues’ – an act that many Pentecostals believe is a personal conversation with God.

Maria Helena de Almeida is a member of one Pentecostal denomination in Brazil. She says she turned away from Catholicism as a teenager because she wanted to become closer to God.

“I was baptized and christened, but I was empty inside and I knew something was lacking. Even though I was Catholic, I never prayed to idols, because I believed there was a Supreme Being - God! And I used to talk to Him. When I was a child, my neighbor used to take me to a Protestant church, and that's where I met God. That's why, at age 18, I became a Protestant.”

Religious views often differ within Latin American families. Ms. de Almeida says some members of her family remain Catholics, including her mother and brother.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis met with a group of Protestants in southern Italy. He wanted to apologize on behalf of Catholics around the world who treated those converting to Pentecostalism unfairly.

"I am the shepherd of the Catholics and I ask you to forgive my Catholic brothers and sisters who did not understand and were tempted by the devil," he said.

Though many are leaving Catholicism, Latin Americans have a generally favorable opinion of Pope Francis. At least half of Catholics in 14 countries have a very favorable opinion of him. But former Catholics do not have strong feelings one way or the other towards the Roman Catholic Church leader.

Many Catholics believe some of the church’s teachings do need to be changed. About 65 percent of Catholics questioned in the study say the church should permit birth control. Around 60 percent say the church should end its ban on divorce.

Last month, Pope Francis convened a two-week synod to discuss the church’s teachings. Even without any change, some observers believe the synod was a signal that the church might ease its position eventually.

I’m Jonathan Evans.



 Jonathan Evans wrote this story for Learning English. This story contains additional material from Religion News Service and the Pew Research Center. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________

Words in this Story 

Catholic - n. a person who is a member of the Roman Catholic Church

denomination - n. a religious group

Pentecostal - n. a member of a Pentecostal religious body that emphasizes individual experiences of grace, spiritual gifts such speaking in tongues and divine healing, expressive worship and evangelism

Protestant – n. a member of one of the Christian churches that separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century



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