le jour de la Thanksgiving / Thanksgiving day

English version below...

La semaine derniere, nous n'avons eu que 3 jours de cours. En effet, c'etait Thanksgiving, jour ferie tres attendu par les Americains. Ce jour est tout aussi important pour eux que le jour de Noel. Il est aussi fete au Canada et est appele "Action de Grace". Mais les Américains fêtent la Thanksgiving le 4e Jeudi de novembre parce que le Président Abraham Lincoln a déclaré ce jour "férié" dans sa célèbre Thanksgiving Proclamation de 1863.
Cette tradition de rendre grâce remonte loin dans le temps. C'était la fête de la Terre-Mère: féconde, abondante, généreuse – la fête de l'automne et de la récolte. La première mention d'une telle fête en Amérique du Nord remonte à 1578. Après avoir débarqué à Terre-Neuve, l'explorateur Martin Frobisher, entouré de son équipage, remercie Dieu de les avoir menés en terre ferme après une pénible traversée. Après un hiver fort rigoureux ou plusieurs moururent, ils semèrent les premières graines et la récolte fut abondante. En signe de remerciement au Seigneur, William Bradford, qui gouvernait la colonie de Plymouth, proclama un "Thanksgiving Day" à l'automne 1621. Durant trois jours, les pèlerins festoyèrent de dindes sauvages et de gibiers avec leurs hôtes Amérindiens. Aux États-Unis, on enregistre plus de 40 millions de dinde dégustées durant cette fin de semaine à chaque année. C'est donc un jour ou l'on se retrouve entre amis et/ou en famille, ou l'on ne fait rien... si ce n'est manger beaucoup!
Comme je vous avais dit, les parents de mon copain Isaiah qui habite a Montreal m'ont invite a feter Thanksgiving avec eux, leur famille et leurs amis. J'ai donc pris le bus jusqu'a San Bernardino pour les rejoindre. J'ai ete recu comme un roi et on a passe une tres bonne journee. J'ai ainsi pu rencontrer Louise, Willard et Joshua (photo), les parents et le frere d'Isaiah. (Isaiah etait chez mes parents en France a la meme periode!)
Le week-end a donc ete assez gastronomique, mais aussi tres musical car je me suis rendu au fameux club "The Baked Potato" pour aller ecouter le Quartet de mon prof Jeff Richman. http://www.jeffrichman.net/
Il jouait avec Reggie Hamilton (basse), Gary Novak (batterie) et Mitchel Forman (claviers). (photo)


Last week, it was Thanksgiving, a day eagerly awaited by Americans. We had only 3 days of class. This day is as important for them as Christmas day. Thanksgiving is not celebrated on the same date in both Canada or the United States. The Americans celebrate Thanksgiving the 4th Thursday of November because Abraham Lincoln stated that this day was a "non-working" day in his famous Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863.
This tradition to gives thanks goes back far in time. It was the festival of the Earth Mother who fertilizes, gives abundance and is generous; it is the festival of the autumn and harvest.
The first mention of such a festival in North America goes back to 1578. After having docked in Newfoundland, the explorer Martin Frobisher, surrounded by his crew, thanked God for having carried them out to firm ground after a painful crossing. This first demonstration was often overlooked and one more easily relates this festival to the English pilgrims who, fleeing the religious constraints of King Jacques 1st, embarked for the New-World on board the "Mayflower" to arrive in New England on November 10, 1620. After one extremely rigorous winter where several died, they sowed their first seeds and the harvest was abundant. As a sign of thanks to the Lord, William Bradford, who controlled the colony of Plymouth, proclaimed "Thanksgiving Day" in the autumn 1621. During three days, the pilgrims feasted on wild turkeys and game with their American Indian hosts.
In the United States, more than 40 million turkeys are eaten during this weekend each year. This bird is generally roasted in its entirety and stuffed, but the recipe changes from place to place.
Therefore, it is a day when you visit with your friends and/or your family. People do nothing... except eat a lot!
As I told you before, the parents of my friend Isaiah who is living in Montreal invited me to celebrate Thanksgiving with them, their friends and their family. So, I took the bus to San Bernardino to meet them. I was very welcomed and the day was very sweet. I met Louise, Willard et Joshua (photo), the parents and the brother of Isaiah. (Isaiah was actually at my parents' home in France at the same period!)
The weekend was also very musical because I went to the club "The Baked Potato" to listen to my teacher, Jeff Richman's 4tet. http://www.jeffrichman.net/
He played with Reggie Hamilton (bass), Gary Novak (drums) and Mitchel Forman (keys). (photo)