Learn by Listening Level 2

[00:00.54]Thanksgiving|[00:02.34] An important holiday in North America|[00:04.33] is held during the fall, or autumn, season of the year.|[00:08.25] This holiday is called Thanksgiving.|[00:11.17] At this time of year, people join with their relatives|[00:14.97] to reflect upon their good fortune.|[00:17.46] Thanksgiving is a holiday|[00:19.39] that has a long history in North America.|[00:22.18] It was first celebrated when English settlers|[00:25.42] arrived in the eastern part of what is now|[00:27.97] the United States, during the seventeenth century.|[00:31.57] When they survived the first hard year,|[00:34.44] they celebrated and gave thanks to God.|[00:37.11] They invited some of the Native people|[00:39.54] to their Thanksgiving celebration,|[00:41.53] because the Native people had helped them|[00:44.33] to survive during the hard winter.|[00:46.88] The tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving continued|[00:50.11] and spread throughout North America.|[00:52.48] Each fall, during the time of the autumn harvest,|[00:55.90] people celebrated Thanksgiving.|[00:58.26] They gave thanks for the food of the harvest,|[01:00.82] and for all the good things in their lives.|[01:03.55] Today, the tradition of Thanksgiving celebration continues.|[01:07.78] Families gather to eat a large bird called a turkey.|[01:11.83] They also eat pumpkin pie.|[01:14.19] This is a sweet dessert that is made|[01:16.80] from a large orange vegetable that grows on the ground.|[01:20.16] In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated|[01:23.71] on the fourth Thursday of November.|[01:26.94] But the following day, Friday, is also a holiday,|[01:30.80] and then comes the weekend.|[01:33.10] In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated|[01:35.90] on the second Monday of October.|[01:38.95] The reason for the earlier celebration in Canada|[01:42.49] is that the weather is colder than in the United States.|[01:46.85] This means that the harvest happens earlier in Canada,|[01:50.52] so Thanksgiving is held at an earlier date.|[01:54.19] But in both countries, Thanksgiving|[01:56.37] is a very pleasant time of year.