Thanksgiving in America : The Story of Thanksgiving, Part 5 (Updated & Reposted from Thanksgiving 2009)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Thanksgiving celebrations since the time of the Pilgrims and Puritans had been celebrated throughout the American colonies. They were always a time of religious reflection thanking God for that year's blessings. There was no set date for thankgiving celebrations but they would be declared by local leaders or colony governors in response to some event. Throughout the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress appointed one or more days of thanksgiving every year. The first formal declaration was made by the Congress in 1777.

As President of the United States, George Washington declared the first federal Thanksgiving Day with the following proclamation:

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease* of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

*an older spelling of “increase”

He would again proclaim a day of Thanksgiving in 1795 as would many of the presidents except Thomas Jefferson. James Madison would renew the tradition that has been followed ever since.

Even though US Presidents proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving (though not every year), it was still not an official federal holiday. During the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, with the influence of Sarah Josepha Hale, decided to create a national Thanksgiving Day that would be celebrated on the last Thursday of November.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with tradition and declared the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. There were 5 Thursdays that year. In 1940 he declared the third Thursday (there were 4 Thursdays that November). His stated goal was to help improve the profits of the Christmas shopping season because of the Great Depression and since it was considered indecent at the time to advertise Christmas items before Thanksgiving. So, finally in 1941, the Congress passed an act declaring that Thanksgiving Day would always be on the fourth Thursday of November.

Other Links and Articles:
Presidential Proclamation – Thanksgiving Day (released on November 24, 2010 by President Obama)
Thanksgiving Features Native American Foods (VOA News article) & Video
President Obama Pardons Thanksgiving Turkey (VOA News article) & Audio

Watch video of President Obama pardoning the 2010 White House turkey in this unusual White House tradition! Download Video : MP4 (66 MB)

See also President Bush’s 2008 Thanksgiving Proclamation

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Video of the Moment : History of the White House Christmas Tree

FreeVideoCoding.com

Vocabulary In the News : 27 November 2009 - US First Lady Receives White House Christmas Tree (VOA News)

 27 November 2009, VOA News

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama received the official White House Christmas tree Friday.

Mrs. Obama emerged from the White House to inspect the tree with daughters Sasha and Malia, after it was delivered on a horse-drawn carriage.

The first lady could be overheard commenting that the more than 5.5- meter tree was the biggest Christmas tree the family has ever had.

The tree comes from a West Virginia Christmas tree-farming couple, Eric and Gloria Sundback, who won a contest run by the National Christmas Tree Association to earn the honor.

After presenting the tree to Mrs. Obama and having tea with her inside the White House, they described the experience as "wonderful" and "a thrill."

The National Christmas Tree Association says this is the 4th time the Sundbacks have won and presented a tree to a U.S. first lady.

The group says its members have presented the official tree for display in the White House Blue Room since 1966.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/usa/First-Lady-White-House-Christmas-Tree-27NOV09--76415002.html

Culture Spot : On This Day . . . 11 November – Happy Birthday Abigail Adams, 1st Second Lady & 2nd First Lady of the United States

On this day in 1744, Abigail Adams (née Smith) was born in town of Weymouth in the colony of Massachusetts. Of all the First Ladies of the United States, she is the one I most admire. She is most remembered thanks to her letters with her husband, John Adams, the first Vice President  and the second President of the United States. She was the mother of the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. She was the first Second Lady of the United States. When her husband John Adams succeeded George Washington as President of the United States, Abigail became the second First Lady and the first to live in the White House.

The letters written between Abigail and John Adams well document their marriage relationship and exposes one of the greatest love stories in American history! The letters shed light on their emotional attachment and their mutual intellectual respect.

Abigail’s father, was a minister in the Congregational Church who preached the importance of reason and morality. Her mother was from the Quincy family, a very influential political family in the Massachusetts Colony. Although she did not receive a formal education due to frail health, her mother taught her and her sisters to read and write. She was also well versed in English and French literature. Thanks to her open-mindedness and idea’s on women’s rights and government, Abigail would become one of the most erudite First Ladies in American history. She would also be one of the most influential and politically active First Ladies. Her political opponents referred to her as “Mrs. President.”

She was also the first First Lady to live in the White House. In 1800, near the end of his term, the President and the First Lady moved into the President’s House, as it was known at the time, while it was still under construction by slave labor, a practice that both she and her husband abhorred!

President Adams lost his bid for re-election in 1800 to then Vice President Thomas Jefferson. Upon Jefferson’s inauguration, the Adams retired back to their home in Quincy, Massachusetts. During her time back in Quincy she closely followed the political career of her son, John Quincy Adams, and renewed correspondence with Thomas Jefferson, their one-time close friend and later political enemy. Thanks to this renewed correspondence, Abigail rekindled the close friendship that the Adams had with Thomas Jefferson.

On October 28, 1818, Abigail Adams died rom typhoid fever and unfortunately never had the pleasure of seeing her son, John Quincy Adams, elected the 6th President of the United States. She was just shy of her 74th birthday. Her last words to her husband were, "Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long."

To learn more about this great American First Lady, go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_Adams

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/first-ladies/abigailadams

http://www.familytales.org/results.php?tla=aba

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/ADAMYD.html

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=2

Watch excerpts from the 2008 HBO miniseries “John Adams” with scenes depicting Abigail Adams played by Laura Linney and John Adams played by Paul Giamatti:

The 2008 HBO series was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning biography John Adams by David McCullough. I read this book and I highly recommend it and the miniseries!!

You can buy the book and the series in DVD or Blu ray at Amazon !

I also very highly recommend the documentary American Experience: John and Abigail Adams (2005)

Vocabulary In the News : 24 September 2009 – The Guardian (London, England)

Click on the image to view a larger version of the front page. To visit The Guardian’s webpage, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

- If you snub someone, you insult them by ignoring or being impolite to them. Apparently, British Prime Minister Brown was snubbed in New York by President Obama. It has been revealed that the prime minister was given the cold shoulder by Obama when the president spurned five requests for bilateral meetings. In other words, Obama refused to meet with Brown and turned away his requests.

One of the reasons for the snub began several weeks ago when the Scottish government released the Lockerbie bomber. The White House disapproved of how No 10 handled the situation.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/23/barack-obama-gordon-brown-talks

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In response to this news, Prime Minister Brown has denied that President Obama snubbed him. Watch this video from Sky News.

Brown Denies Reports Of Obama Rift

Gordon Brown has been forced to deny reports of a rift (un désaccord)with Barack Obama. It had been claimed that the US President had rejected five approaches for a meeting with the Prime Minister. Mr Brown has been speaking to Sky's Andy Bell.

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On the BBC “Have Your Say” where the public can express their opinion, the following question was asked for discussion.

Is the US distancing itself from Britain?

Repeated requests from Britain for a formal meeting with President Barack Obama fell on deaf ears (tomber dans l’oreille d’un sourd) in the US. Is the "special relationship" cooling?

Requests from Downing Street for official talks were turned down with both camps denying it amounts to a snub. Instead the US president had private meetings with leaders from Russia, China and Japan.

Gordon Brown was able to have a wide-ranging (ample, étendu) discussion with the president. However, it has emerged this was a conversation in a kitchen after a meal at the United Nations.

Has the special relationship changed following the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi? Should Obama be focusing on developing relations with other leaders? Do you think this is just a storm in a teacup (une tempête dans un verre d’eau) ?

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So what do you think? Leave your opinion to these questions (in English of course!!) by clicking on the comment button at the bottom of this post.

 

Culture Spot : Lagers* of Our Leaders - A Look Back at What US Presidents Have Imbibed**

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/01/lagers-leaders-look-presidents-imbibed/

F.D.R. threw keggers and J.F.K. was a Heineken man, while Theodore Roosevelt didn't touch the stuff.

Wall Street Journal / FOXNews.com

Saturday, August 01, 2009

The most pressing question of the week was what brands of brew would be quaffed at the White House "beer summit," the presidential peer-mediation between the Harvard prof and the Cambridge cop. Some foodie followers were dismayed to hear that President Obama chose to drink Bud Light, which some dismiss as the very symbol of corporate, mass-produced, flavorless beer-like product.

No one makes a fuss over what brand of coffee is dripping in the White House kitchen. But the quality and nationality of alcoholic drinks bring out high passions.

This is a rather recent obsession. French wines were commonplace at 1600 Pennsylvania up until Lyndon Johnson made drinking American a matter of national pride. He banished the old parlez-vous mouthwash, not only in the president's house, but also at every embassy and government function. The main effect of this was that for years the only fizzy wine in the White House was New York "champagne."

Johnson was rebelling against the worldly chic of the Kennedy years, when Dom Perignon was the house wine. John Kennedy not only liked bubbly, he was a man for Daiquiris and could be found to discuss nuclear deterrence strategy over gin and tonics. But his standard refreshment was beer, and his tastes did not run to the domestic stuff. J.F.K. was a Heineken man.

Oh for the days when there would have been a beer that the president served without a lot of fussy fuss over who wanted exactly what.

Say what you will about the advisability of Thursday's "beer summit," but one thing was clear: It was the most momentous moment for White House suds in three-quarters of a century.

The last time the question of presidential beer was considered quite so newsworthy came in spring of 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt acted to make 3.2 beer legal, setting the stage for the elimination of Prohibition altogether. At the stroke of midnight, April 7, beer started flowing, and within minutes a shiny new truck from Washington's Abner-Drury Brewery was hurtling down a rain-slick Pennsylvania Ave, led by an escort of motorcycle cops. Inside the truck were two cases of freshly brewed beer; outside was a banner proclaiming, "President Roosevelt, the first real beer is yours!" Other beer makers were quick to follow suit. No dummy, F.D.R. had the bottles distributed to the thirsty gentlemen of the press.

Theodore Roosevelt, by contrast, did not drink beer. We know this because we have his testimony, under oath: "I do not drink beer," T.R. told the jury in the little burg of Ishpeming, Mich., nearly a century ago.

There have been teetotalers in office, but the great presidential beer villain, of course, was Woodrow Wilson who, during World War I, signed a law shutting down the nation's breweries.

*a lager – une bière blonde

**to imbibe – boire

Read the companion article ‘Teachable Moment’ Observed With Beer by Elizabeth Williamson and John Hechinger of the Wall Street Journal

 

Expand your beer vocabulary by reading the Wikipedia articles about:

Beer

Lager

Ale

Video of the Moment : Diplomacy on Tap - Brews and Views at the White House

Interactive: Inside the White House (MSNBC.com)

Take an interactive trip inside the White House to learn about the history of America’s house.

Interactive: Inside the White House - White House - MSNBC.com

 

Culture Spot: Love & Marriage in America’s Past – A White House Wedding

The Cleveland’s wedding – the only presidential nuptials ever held in the White House – took place in a flower-bedecked Blue Room. Frances Cleveland was more tolerant of the press than her husband, and the public, in turn, adored her.

Immensely private, somewhat abrasive, and a portly 300 pounds, President Grover Cleveland was not most people’s idea of a romantic leading man. But, as a 49-year-old bachelor in the White House, he nevertheless had mothers throughout America busily plotting schemes for introducing their daughters to him. Cleveland, however, paid no mind: when asked about his marriage plans, he simply replied, “I’m waiting for my wife to grow up.”

Little did anyone suspect that Cleveland was serious, for he was in fact courting lovely Frances Folsom – 27 years his junior, and the daughter of his former law partner in Buffalo, New York. Frances had been 11 when her father died, and Cleveland, who administrated the estate, also took on the role of her guardian. It was a duty he undertook with the utmost propriety. But in time, his avuncular concerns for his young ward ripened into abiding affection.

Given their considerable age differences and Cleveland’s prominence, he pursued the relationship with great delicacy and secrecy, mostly by mail. Waiting until she had graduated from college and made the grand tour of Europe, Cleveland stunned America with the announcement on May 28, 1886, that he would marry Frances at the White House within the week. By marrying quickly, he hoped, the opportunities for gossip and “keyhole journalism” would be kept to a minimum. But that would not be.

The couple’s simple Blue Room wedding (at which Frances wore an ivory satin gown with a 15-foot train) was duly covered by the press. But when the Clevelands left by rail for a remote honeymoon cottage in the foothills of Maryland’s Blue Ridge Mountains, they were trailed by a second train loaded with newsmen, who set up camp nearby.

With the aid of field glasses, the reporters went to work telling the world every intimate detail of the couple’s activities. As the days went by, Cleveland became increasingly outraged by what he termed the “newspaper nuisances” and their “colossal impertinence.” In truth, however, the public’s hunger for news of the pair was inspired not by malice but by affection. The president had captured the nation’s heart by falling in love. Frances turned out to be one of the most popular first ladies ever to preside in the executive mansion, and their January-and-June marriage remains among the more celebrated of all presidential matches.

Taken from Discovering America’s Past – Customs, Legends, History & Lore of Our Great Nation, 1993 published by Reader’s Digest

Video of the Moment: Inside the Obama White House

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

To view more videos from this report, go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30892505/

Vocabulary in the News: St. Patty’s Day Parties at White House

Taken from: http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0309/big_day_wednesday_36650cd8-6222-4f7d-9f10-ad7ecbd4a169.html

By AMIE PARNES

A White House aide tells POLITICO44 that Obama (O’Bama?) will be hosting two St. Patrick’s Day bashes at the White House Tuesday night.

The theme at the WH will be green all day. Starting at the top o’ the mornin’--or more like 11a.m. -- Obama and Joe Biden will meet with the Taoiseach of Ireland in the Oval Office. A little while later, they'll attend a Shamrock Ceremony in the Roosevelt Room.

After meeting with the Northern Ireland officials, Obama will travel to the Capitol where he will deliver remarks at Speaker Nancy Pelosi's St. Paddy's Day lunch.

Then, later in the evening, Obama will deliver the remarks at not one but two St. Patrick's Day receptions at the WH, where he's hosting Irish American lawmakers and other Irish Americans, a White House aide said.

St. Patty’s Day or St. Paddy’s Day (slang)	-	St. Patrick’s Day EX. Shall we go to the local Irish pub to celebrate St. Patty’s Day?
to host	-	to receive and entertain guests in a social or official setting EX. Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympic Games.
a bash (slang)	-	a celebration, a party EX. He planned a huge bash to celebrate his birthday.
top o’ the mornin’ (Irish slang)	-	early in the morning Good morning! EX. Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!
Taoiseach of Ireland	-	the head of government of Ireland, equivalent to a prime minister Ex. In a packed Dail chamber, Brian Cowen was elected Taoiseach of Ireland after a vote to choose between him, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore.
to attend (faux ami)	-	to be present at EX. Many heads of state attended the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.
a shamrock		a small clover-like plant with three round leaves on each stem: the national emblem of Ireland
to deliver remarks	-	to make a speech or oration EX. Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. will deliver remarks on the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue to the World Affairs Council of Washington.
a reception	-	a social function, especially one intended to provide a welcome or greeting EX. After the wedding ceremony, there was a reception where a wedding cake and champagne were served.
a lawmaker	-	one who makes or enacts laws; a legislator such as a member of the US Congress or the Assemblée Nationale. EX. A lawmaker in California wants to force Google Earth and similar services to blur images of so-called “soft targets” like schools.

Abraham Lincoln's White House 1861-1865 during U.S. Civil War.

This is a very nice site on the Lincoln years in the White House.

Abraham Lincoln's White House 1861-1865 during U.S. Civil War.

Visit the New White House Webpage

The change in administrations also brings a new look to the official White House webpage turning it more into a blog. Click on the above image to visit the site.

In the News: President Bush's Farewell Address

On Thursday evening, the 43rd President of the United States, George Walker Bush, gave his farewell address to the American people as he readies to hand over the US Presidency to President-elect Barack Hussein Obama II, the 44th President.

Below you will find the video of the President's address along with the text and vocabulary.

President Bush Delivers Farewell Address to the Nation

Keep an eye on the blog this week to find out about Inauguration Day on Tuesday and then I will post during the week the Inaugural Speech of President Obama along with the video if I find a suitable one to post.

Video Lesson 07: Bush Prepares to Hand Over Power to Obama (A2+ and higher)

In this video from Voice of America, you will learn how the White House transitions to a new presidentential administration. Print out the worksheet below to answer the listening comprehension quesitons.

In the United States, a presidential transition is a carefully choreographed affair. In a time of war and economic stress it assumes added importance. The countdown begins to a new administration as Inauguration Day approaches.

Video Lesson 07 - Bush Prepares to Hand Over Power to Obama

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

When you are finished, you can read the transcript for the video at http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-12-18-voa25.cfm

Christmas in America - The White House Christmas Tree

The First Lady Laura Bush kicked off the Christmas season at the White House by receiving the White House Christmas tree on Sunday. The 6.10 meter Fraser Fir was delivered by horse-drawn carriage to the front steps where the First Lady was waiting. The tree will be set up in the Blue Room of the White House and Mrs. Bush explained that as the centerpiece of the White House's holiday decor, the White House Christmas tree would be decorated by ornaments coming from American artists all around the United States. Other than that, this year's holiday decorating theme has yet to be announced. The White House Christmas tree has been presented to American First Ladies since 1966 by The National Christmas Tree Association.

Visit the White House website to view First Lady Laura Bush's remarks.

Visit the Blue Room in the White House/

VOCABULARY

to kick off - démarrer

horse-drawn carriage - calèche

centerpiece - décoration centrale