Exercise of Thanksgiving Around the World Class 10
Festivals are not just a means of entertainment or rejoicing (आनन्द). They also reflect our heritage (सम्पदा), culture and traditions. Thanksgiving (धन्यवाद) is celebrated around the world to extend thanks for the harvest, enjoying bountiful (प्रशस्त) food, and spending time with family and friends. Even though Thanksgiving seems to be uniquely American, the tradition is followed in different countries in various forms.
Thanksgiving, USA
Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving in the USA is a national holiday that commemorates (सम्झना गराउदछ) the feast (भोजन उत्सव) the Pilgrims held after the first harvest in 1621. The first celebration was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 pilgrims. Thanksgiving has been celebrated intermittently (विचविचमा) ever since.
Thanksgiving dinner with family plays a central role in the celebrations (उत्सव), with Americans eating more food on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year, including Christmas. Roast turkey is essential approximately 45 million of them are consumed every year – as well as mashed ( मसलिएको) potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn and assorted (भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकारका) fall vegetables, all food that is native to the Americans.
Parades are a big part of the celebrations too. They range from small-town affairs featuring the local marching band to Macy’s Thanksgiving parade through the streets of New York. Billed (अभिलेख राखिएको) as the world’s largest parade, it features parade floats and huge balloons, usually based on cartoon characters, current Broadway (a famous street in New York, USA) shows and other topical themes.
Chuseok, South Korea
Chuseok (a major harvest festival of Korea), also called Hangnail, is a Korean festive holiday celebrated on the 15th day of August, according to the lunar (चन्द्रमा सम्बन्धी) calendar. The festival is celebrated to commemorate (स्मरण गर्न) the fall harvest and to honour one’s ancestors. Similar to Thanksgiving Day in the USA, the Harvest Moon Festival, as it is also known, is one of the most popular holidays in Korea. Traditionally, Koreans return to their ancestral hometowns to celebrate with their families.
The festival day begins with a ceremony in which food and wine are offered to ancestors. This is followed by a meal that typically (सामान्यतया) consists of fish and newly harvested vegetables and grains. The food most associated with the holiday is songpyon, a crescent-shaped (अर्धचन्द्राकारको) rice cake that is cooked on a bed of pine needles. Later in the day, celebrants (उत्सव मनाउनेहरू) visit the graves of relatives, where more ceremonies are performed. Chuseok is also marked by gift giving and athletic events, including tug-of- war (डोरी तान्ने खेल) competitions, archery contests, and sirrum, Korean wrestling matches. Other activities include dancing and music playing. On this day, many Koreans wear hanbok, the traditional clothing.
Dia de Acao de Gracas, Brazil
In Brazil, Thanksgiving is a relatively new festival but it’s celebrated with great gusto (उत्साह). It is said that when the former Brazilian President, Gaspar Dutra visited the USA, he was fascinated with the holiday and established the festival in his home country in 1949.
Dia de Acao de Gracas begins with the mass to offer thanks for an abundant (प्रचुर) harvest then there is a vibrant (जीवन्त) carnival and revellers (उत्सव मनाउनेहरू) head to the beach, Peru. Roasted turkey is still the centrepiece of the Brazilian Thanksgiving feast, but there are a few exotic (विदेशी) twists. Cranberries do not grow in Brazil, so a sauce made of Jaboticaba, known as the ‘Brazilian grape’, is whipped up (मिश्रित गर्नु) to spread on the bird.
Thanksgiving, Liberia
Liberian Thanksgiving is a vibrant and spicy affair. Founded in the 19thcentury by liberated American slaves, the festival gives thanks for freedom. Liberians celebrate the good things in life, while also marking their troubled past.
After a church service, families gather for a spread of roasted chicken, traditional green bean casserole (क्यासेरोल) and mashed cassava (सेतो तरुल) – all liberally doused with feast is topped off (ended) with an evening of dancing, singing and celebration.
Crop Over, Barbados
The celebration of Crop Over is Barbados’s biggest party. The festival spreads over a length of 12 weeks, from May until August, when it culminates (समाप्त हुन्छ) in the massive finale (समापन): the Grand Kadooment.
Originally a celebration of the sugar cane harvest, Crop Over has been celebrated since the 1780s when Barbados was the world’s largest produce of the sweet-stuff. Carnivals pervade ( फैलिन्छ) the lengthy celebrations, and calypso (West Indian Music) bands and dancers compete in ever grander and more flamboyant (रङ्गीचङ्गी) displays.
Homowo, Ghana
The Homowo festival, meaning to jeer (उपहास गर्नु) or hoot at hunger in Ghana historically celebrates the ending of a long famine (खाद्यसंकट) suffered by the Ghanaians. What could be better to celebrate the end of shortage than a feast? Palm nut soup with fish is served alongside traditional Kpokoi, a kind of grits (मकैको पीठो) made from unleavened corn dough and palm oil.
Starting in May with the sowing of millet, the festival takes place through August and September after a ban on drumming and singing that is meant to encourage proper care of the crops. The festival culminates in a night of singing and dancing and frantic beating of drums in loud defiance of hunger and famine.
Mehregan, Iran
A festival that dates back at least to the 4th century BC, Mehregan in Iran is held on the 196th day of the Iranian year. The festival celebrates a successful harvest and the goddess Mehr (ancient Persian deity of love, friendship and justice).
The celebration calls for new clothes, community blessings and a feast on a table decorated with marjoram (aromatic and flavorful leaves). The spread includes sherbert drinks and lavish dinners; in some villages, a sheep is sacrificed and slow-roasted throughout the day.
Revellers rub kohl (eyeliner) around their eyes as a good omen and throw handfuls of marjoram, lotus and sugar plum seeds over each other.
Glossary of the Text Thanksgiving Around the World Class 10
- Feast: a large and special meal or celebration
- Intermittently: occurring at irregular intervals or times
- Mashed: food that has been crushed or beaten into a soft, pulpy texture
- Assorted: a collection of various types or kinds
- Billed: scheduled or advertised to appear in a performance or event
- Lunar: relating to the moon or its cycles
- Commemorate : to honor the memory of someone or something
- Typically : usually, normally, or commonly
- Crescent-shaped : having a curved shape that resembles a crescent or a thin, curved moon
- Celebrants: people who are celebrating or taking part in a celebration
- Gusto: great enjoyment or enthusiasm
- Abundant: present in great quantity; more than sufficient
- Vibrant: full of energy, life, and colour
- Revellers: people who are enjoying themselves at a party or celebration
- Exotic: foreign or unusual in a way that is exciting or intriguing
- Cassava: a starchy root vegetable that is widely used in tropical cuisines
- Doused: soaked or wetted thoroughly with a liquid
- Topped off: completed or finished with a final addition or flourish
- Culminates: reaches the highest point or final stage of development
- Finale: the concluding part of a performance or event
- Pervade: to spread throughout or be present in every part of something
- Calypso: a style of music and dance that originated in Trinidad and Tobago
- Flamboyant: strikingly bold, showy, or extravagant
- Jeer: to make rude or mocking remarks or sounds, often in a disrespectful or insulting way
- Hoot: a loud, sharp sound made by an owl or other bird, or a sound made to express ridicule or derision
- Famine: a severe shortage of food, often resulting in starvation and death
- Grits: a type of coarsely ground corn that is boiled and eaten as a breakfast food in the southern United States
- Unleavened: not made to rise by the action of yeast or other leavening agents
- Marjoram: a herb with aromatic and flavorful leaves, often used in cooking
- Sherbert: a type of frozen dessert that is similar to sorbet
- Kohl: a cosmetic product used in many cultures to darken the eyelids and eyelashes
- Omen: an event or phenomenon that is believed to be a sign of something that will happen in the future.
A. The meanings of some of the words from the text are given below. Find the words and write against the correct meanings.
in a way occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady intermittent
to remind people of an important event or person from the past commemorate
in a way that shows the usual qualities or features of a particular type of person or thing typically
a curved shape that is wide in the middle and pointed at each end cresent-shaped
full of life and energy vibrant
a person who is having fun in a noisy way, usually with a group of other people reveller/celebrator
from or in another country; seeming exciting and unusual exotic
to spread through and be easy to notice pervade
brightly coloured and likely to attract attention flamboyant
done quickly and with a lot of activity, but not very well organized frantic
M. The following events represent different activities observed during Thanksgiving around the world. Study them carefully and write the names of countries where they are celebrated.
Families gather for a feast in the evening accompanied by dancing and singing. Liberia
People wear new clothes and get community blessings. Iran
Palm nut soup, fish and traditional Kpokoi are served. Ghana
People return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival. South Korea
Celebrants go to the beach in a noisy way. Brazil
Parades are taken out in the streets. USA
Food and wine are offered to the forefathers. South Korea
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What is the main feature of American Thanksgiving?
⇒ The main feature of American Thanksgiving is a large feast shared with family and friends, usually including turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, and assorted fall vegetables.
b. What do parades include in Thanksgiving in America?
⇒ Parades in Thanksgiving in America usually include floats, marching bands, and giant balloons in the shape of popular cartoon characters.
c. When and why is Chuseok celebrated in Korea?
⇒ Chuseok, celebrated in Korea on the 15th day of August, depending on the lunar calendar, is a harvest festival and a time for families to gather and honour their ancestors.
d. How did Thanksgiving begin in Brazil?
⇒ Thanksgiving began in Brazil as a new festival that has been celebrated since 1949 when former Brazilian President Gaspar Dutra visited the USA.
e. Who started Thanksgiving in Liberia? Why was it started?
⇒ Thanksgiving in Liberia was started by freed American slaves who had settled in the country. They wanted to celebrate their newfound freedom and give thanks to God for their blessings.
f. What is Thanksgiving celebrated in Barbados for?
⇒ Thanksgiving is celebrated in Barbados to give thanks for a successful sugar cane harvest.
g. What is Homowo marked in Ghana?
⇒ Homowo is marked in Ghana as to defence against hunger and famine.
D. How do people extend their gratitude for food and harvest in your community? Share with your friends.
Our heartfelt appreciation for food and the abundant crop is eloquently conveyed in the Nepalese community via beloved traditions such as the bright Dashain celebration. This 15-day event is a sincere homage to our appreciation for the land’s nourishment. Throughout Dashain, we worship to the goddess Durga, who represents the richness of our harvests. We do puja, deliver offerings of brilliant flowers and delicious fruits, and respectfully accept tika and blessings from our esteemed elders during these important rites.
These traditions help us connect with our spiritual roots and remind us of the value of thankfulness. Furthermore, we have the delightful pleasure of feeding on traditional foods passed down through generations. These gastronomic delicacies not only please our palates but also connect us to our cultural origins, transforming the festival into a sensual celebration of our ancestry. Another unusual ritual known as “Paddy Festivals” takes center stage in the tranquil surroundings of rural Nepal. These festivities commemorate the abundant rice harvests that feed our communities.
We participate in activities like as rice planting and harvesting rituals at these meetings. These not only represent the completion of hard effort, but also generate a strong feeling of camaraderie within the community as we gather to celebrate the rewards of our collective labor. In essence, the importance of food and harvest is highly valued in our Nepalese culture. We celebrate this vital component of our life with a tapestry of religious rites, happy family reunions, and lively communal festivals, displaying our unwavering gratitude for the nutrition that keeps us going.
Grammar II
A. Rewrite the following sentences choosing the correct alternative from brackets.
a. Sujita asked her mother ……. (when her father would come home, when will her father come home, when might her father come home).
Sujita asked her mother when her father would come home.
b. She replied that she had never had caviar when I said to her, “…… caviar?” (Have you ever had, Will you have, Would you have)
She replied that she had never had caviar when I said to her, “Have you ever had caviar?”
c. The salesperson said to him, “What ……….. for you?” (I can do, can I do, I could do)
The salesperson said to him, “What can I do for you?”
d. The tourist inquired from me …….. to Banepa. (whether I belonged, whether I would belong, whether am belonging)
The tourist inquired from me whether I belonged to Banepa.
e. The little girl asked us what time …… to come back. (were we supposed, we were supposed, we had been supposed)
The little girl asked us what time we were supposed to come back.
f. The head teacher asked her …….. the exam form the week before. (whether she had filled out, whether she fills out, whether had she filled out)
The head teacher asked her whether she had filled out the exam form the week before.
g. Renuka asked me ……. her. (if I have called, if I had called, if had I called)
Renuka asked me if I had called her.
B. Nihar Chaudhary interviewed her Social Studies teacher last week. Here is the report prepared by her after the interview. Read it carefully and list out direct questions asked by Nihar.
Direct questions asked by Nihar Chaudhary:
- Why is the Ihi ceremony performed?
- What is the purpose of marrying pre-adolescent girls to Suvarna Kumar?
- How does the Ihi tradition relate to the Sati tradition?
- At what age are the girls typically married in the Ihi ceremony?
- Why is the Ihi ceremony also known as Bel Bibaha (Ihi)?
- Why is the wood apple fruit (bel) used as a witness in the ceremony?
- How long does the Thi ceremony usually last?
- What are the restrictions on food and drinks during the ceremony?
Writing II
A. Write a news story using the following clues.
Vitamin A Capsules Given to Children
health assistants give Vitamin A Capsules, October 19-20
children from six months to five years
deworming tablets to children between 1-5 years
announced by the Department of Health Services
Vitamin A programme has continued since 2050 BS and deworming capsules since 2056 BS
Vitamin A Capsules and Deworming Tablets Administered to Nepali Children
Kathmandu, October 21, 2023 – In a bid to bolster the health and well-being of Nepal’s youngest citizens, the Department of Health Services announced a two-day campaign from October 19 to 20 that saw the distribution of Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets to children aged between six months and five years.
The Vitamin A program, which has been running since 2050 BS (1993 AD), is a testament to Nepal’s commitment to improving child health. This year’s campaign extended its reach to an estimated two million children, helping them combat vitamin deficiency and its associated health risks.
Vitamin A plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy vision, a strong immune system, and overall growth in children. Insufficient vitamin A intake can lead to various health issues, including night blindness and increased vulnerability to infections. The biannual distribution of Vitamin A capsules has significantly contributed to reducing such health risks among the country’s children.
Additionally, deworming tablets were administered to children between the ages of one and five as part of the campaign. Deworming has been an essential component of Nepal’s child health initiatives since 2056 BS (1999 AD), focusing on eradicating intestinal worms that can lead to malnutrition and other health problems.
Health assistants and volunteers played a pivotal role in this initiative, visiting communities and health centers to ensure that children in even the most remote areas received these essential supplements. The health workers received training on the safe and effective administration of the capsules and tablets to ensure that the children benefited from the campaign without any adverse effects.
Parents and guardians praised the government’s continued efforts to improve child health, citing the program as a lifeline for their children’s growth and development. The Department of Health Services is dedicated to reaching every eligible child in Nepal, underscoring the government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services to its youngest citizens.
The success of the Vitamin A and deworming campaigns reflects Nepal’s ongoing efforts to enhance child health and combat malnutrition, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for the nation’s children. With the unwavering support of health assistants, community workers, and volunteers, these initiatives continue to make a positive impact on the health and lives of Nepal’s children.
