Thanksgiving in an American family, in the United States

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in some countries around the world, mainly in North America: Canada, the United States, but also in Liberia. It takes place on different dates in different countries. The most important celebration is the American version, as it is celebrated and expected by the whole population.

A historical origin

Thanksgiving dates back to the autumn of 1621, when it was decided to celebrate the first harvest in Plymouth. These harvests would ensure the future of the colony.

English dissenters had disembarked from the Mayflower the previous winter. These Pilgrim Fathers founded the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first winter was terrible. Scurvy, cold and hunger killed half of them.

In the spring, Indians from the Wampanoag tribe offered them food. They taught them how to fend for themselves and the art of fishing and hunting. They showed them how to grow and harvest corn. They showed them the virtues of certain plants and those to avoid. The pumpkin also played an important role during the winter.

Thus, during the first harvest in 1621, three days were dedicated to Thanksgiving. The Indians were invited to come and share a meal in gratitude for their help. Wild turkeys, unknown to the settlers at the time, were offered and eaten, as well as game.

For some, the origin to be considered dates back to 1623. In that year, a day of prayer and fasting was declared because of the drought. A few days later, rain fell and saved the crops. A day of thanksgiving was declared at the end of November.

Since then, several Thanksgiving Days have been declared. It was declared a national day in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. The last Thursday in November was chosen as the date for this holiday. Franklin Delano Roosevelt changed the date to the fourth Thursday in November in 1939. It was not until 1941 that Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday.

Turkey, queen of the day

Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year. Great parades take place on this day, especially in New York: the Macy's department stores', for example, organises a large 3-hour parade with customised floats and artists. On this day, all American families gather for a big traditional family meal at home. This big meal is also offered to American soldiers based abroad.

The turkey is the queen of the feast, and the main dish. It is stuffed with chestnuts, apples, oysters or sausages, for example. It is usually accompanied by mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes or a squash gratin. Green beans and corn are also on the menu. A cranberry sauce is added to the mix. The famous pumpkin pie closes the meal.

Since 1989, a more folkloric tradition has emerged: the President of the United States must pardon a turkey in front of journalists on the eve of Thanksgiving.

Departure for Christmas

This time of year is a time for giving and charity. Many meals are served to the homeless by both anonymous people and celebrities. Associations distribute millions of frozen turkeys to disadvantaged families.

Many masses and prayers punctuate this day. They are said to give thanks for the blessings received throughout the year.

The day after Thanksgiving is also a special day. This Friday, known as "The Black Friday", is the occasion of major sales in practically all shops. It marks the start of the Christmas shopping season.

This period is ideal for a language stay in an English-speaking country. It allows you to immerse yourself in the daily life of an American family, and to better understand the culture by participating in the most important holiday of the year.

It is also an opportunity to taste the specific cuisine of Thanksgiving.

Some anecdotes

Americans travel the most at this time, by plane or by car. Indeed, they come from all over the United States or elsewhere to be with their families. Friends are also welcome around the table. It is very important for them to be together on this day.

Many Americans eat turkey on this day. Thanksgiving is therefore also called "The Turkey Day".

Different regions have different side dishes. In the north-east of the country, maple syrup is used to coat the turkey. In Baltimore, sauerkraut is a must, in memory of its German origins. Cornbread with oysters comes from the south-east of the USA.

The same applies to desserts. Pecan pie replaces pumpkin pie in Georgia. Sweet potato pie is a staple on North Carolina tables.

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What is the difference between the novel and the short story?

Novel and short story, the difference?

This is another question that comes up quite often and that is not so easy to answer, although it seems obvious to many of us. What is the difference between a novel and a short story? And don't laugh, I know literary bloggers who don't know the difference!

Short stories and novels are similar in that they both tell stories and both formats share storytelling characteristics.

However, there are fundamental differences between the two types of fiction writing.

Writing a short story requires a different approach and application.

Short stories evoke a storytelling art that offers a whole experience in one reading.

So what is the difference between a novel and a short story?

The difference between a novel and a short story is mainly visible in the length of the story. On the other hand, these two types of writing must be understood differently.

A novel is a long form of writing as opposed to a short story.

This is the fundamental difference between the two. Let us examine them in more detail.

The Short Story

Definition

A short story is a story with fewer characters and focuses on one main incident.

A short story is a short literary form.

It is not characterised by many characters, which is a characteristic of a novel.

The main character of a short story, of course, is supported by a few other characters who add importance to the story.

Thus, it is easy for the reader to remember the characters who appear in a short story.

Length of a short story

The precise definition of the word count varies, but as a general rule, a short story can be up to about 7,500 words (sometimes 10,000).

Types of short stories

Here are some literary styles/movements, with examples of authors and the years in which they wrote:

• Realism: depicting the subject in detail and true to life, without artistic conventions (Kate Chopin, O. Henry, Anton Chekhov, 1850s to early 1900s)
• Modernism: experimentation with narrative form, style and chronology (inner monologues, stream of consciousness) to capture the experience of the individual (James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Katherine Mansfield, 1910-1920)
• Science fiction: Presenting imaginary futures or dystopian worlds in which humans face profound technological, social or environmental changes (Ray Bradbury, 1940s-1950s)
• Magical realism: Combining a realistic story or setting with elements of surrealism, dream or fantasy (Gabriel García Márquez, 1960-1970s)
• Postmodernism: Using fragmentation, paradox or unreliable narrators to explore the relationship between author, reader and text (Donald Barthelme, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, 1950-1970)
• Minimalism: Writing characterised by brevity, simple language and lack of plot resolution (Raymond Carver, Ann Beattie, Amy Hempel, 1980-1990)

The novel

Definition

A novel is a story that has many characters and explores many incidents. A novel is a long literary form.

It is usually divided into several chapters, sometimes numbered and sometimes unnumbered.

The story of a novel is usually told over many years of the main character of the novel.

Many other characters are also associated with the main character.

These characters appear and go in a novel. However, it may not be very easy for a reader to remember all the characters appearing in a novel. This is due to the large size of a novel.

Length of a novel

Novels are longer stories, usually between 7,500 words and 17,500-20,000 words.

Types of novels

Novels come in every style imaginable, with each author bringing their own unique voice to the table.
There are a handful of major sub-genres that tend to make up a significant portion of the market, although there are many other genres (and mixes of genres).

Some of the main types of novels you might need to know about:

• Mystery novels: these revolve around a crime that needs to be solved.
• Science fiction and fantasy: both of which deal with speculative world building.
• Horror/thriller: these novels are often designed to induce a sense of fear.
• Romance: these are novels that are primarily about love.
• Historical fiction: as the name suggests, historical fiction is simply a fictional story set in a real, past time in human history.

Difference between novel and short story

Definition of a novel and a short story

• A novel is a story that has many characters and explores many incidents.
• A short story is a story with fewer characters and focuses on one main incident.

Literary form

• The novel is a long literary form.
• The short story is a short literary form.

Writer

• A novel writer is known as a novelist.
• A short story writer is known as a short story writer.

Characters

• A novel usually has a number of characters.
• A short story usually has only a few characters.

Main character

• A novel can have several main characters.
• A short story focuses on one main character.

Chapters

• A novel is a long piece of fiction and is therefore divided into chapters.
• A short story consists of only a few pages and is therefore not divided into chapters.

Climax

• A novel has a climax, but it goes through a number of different incidents.
• A short story also has a climax, but it does not describe many incidents like a novel.

Point of view

Point of view is another difference.

• In a short story, the story is told through the eyes of the main character, no matter how many characters are present.
• In contrast, a novel offers more flexibility. The story can be told in the first person, which creates more intimacy, but it can be restrictive to experience the whole story from the protagonist's point of view.

The result of these two aspects is the short, incisive character of the short story, unlike the novel, from which it draws its strength.

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Recipe for making Black forest cake

Cooking recipes - How to make Black forest cake?

Ingredients:

For the chocolate cake

• 150 g flour
• 50 g potato starch
• 200 g sugar
• 100 g bitter cocoa powder
• 6 eggs

For the filling and decoration

• 500 ml liquid cream
• 500 g Cherries or Morello cherries in syrup
• 100 g chocolate vermicelli
• 50 ml Kirsch

Steps for making Black forest cake:

Prepare the chocolate cake: put the bitter cocoa powder, potato starch and T 45 flour in a bowl and mix together, then sift well.

Put all the whole eggs in a bowl with the sugar and beat them with electric beaters for at least 10 minutes until they become light and fluffy.

Gradually add the powders and mix with a spatula until the mixture is smooth, taking care not to overcomb.

Butter or oil or line a 22cm diameter cake tin with baking paper and pour in the chocolate cake mixture.

Level the surface well and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (gas mark 6) for about 35 minutes until it is completely cooked, even on the inside, using a toothpick test.

Take the chocolate cake out and let it cool completely before removing it from the mould.

When it is completely cool remove it from the tin and cut off the top bump so that the surface is perfectly flat but keep the "leftovers" aside because you will need them later.

Prepare the filling: put the liquid cream in a bowl and whip with electric beaters until stiff.

In another bowl put the morello cherries drained from the syrup and in another bowl all the syrup where you will add the kirsch liqueur.

When the chocolate cake is completely cooled, cut it horizontally into three parts.

Brush each layer of the genoise with the syrup and kirsch liqueur mixture and fill it with the whipped cream and morello cherries in syrup.

Fill all the layers in this way and cover the cake completely with the remaining whipped cream.

Decorate the outside of the cake with chocolate vermicelli and decorate the surface with whipped cream, chocolate vermicelli, morello cherries in syrup and the crumbled gingerbread that you have previously cut.

The black forest cake can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days.

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Tips for preparing a magical and unforgettable Christmas party

Christmas is undoubtedly the most awaited party of the year. This moment of sharing requires a minimum of organisation. In order to make this evening magical and memorable, here are some tips. Obviously, the most important thing is to have fun in order to end the year in a pleasant way, whether it is with friends or colleagues.

Anticipate and set a date for Christmas Eve

Organising a company Christmas party requires a minimum of organisation. During the festive season, the calendar of reception halls is usually full. Therefore, a quick reservation is essential. It is best to start looking as early as August. Then it is important to decide on a date, whether the reception will take place during the day or in the evening. The Thursday before the holidays is the ideal day, as weekends and school holidays are reserved for the family.

Choosing the theme of the evening

Whether it is a family or corporate Christmas party, the theme is essential to set the tone (evening, cocktail party, gala dinner, tea party, etc.). This theme should be reflected on the invitation, the envelope, the decorations and the gift packages. It is possible to keep it simple and opt for a "white Christmas". It's easy to work around this theme by not forgetting the great classics like eggnog, mulled wine or gingerbread biscuits. Some people go for originality and choose an opposite theme, such as "tropical" for a Christmas in Hawaii. This idea is especially suitable for warmer regions. In any case, it is best to choose a theme that your guests can relate to.

Determining the budget

It is important to keep in mind that a party means spending money. There is no need to go overboard. It is possible to organise a convivial Christmas party without breaking the bank. For companies, this party is an opportunity to thank employees for their efforts. So the event has to be just right. If the budget is tight, here are some tips:

• Focus on the important things, such as a good meal. A breathtaking setting is not a must.
• Instead of a formal party, it's better to have a cocktail party in the conference room at midday.
• Some companies turn the party into a fundraising event to help local organisations. A way to keep the Christmas spirit alive!

Finding the right venue

The choice of venue depends largely on the budget, but also on the theme. For a company Christmas party, it is better to go outside the business environment if the budget allows. If this is the case, it is recommended to :

• Find out the capacity of each interesting room.
• Determine the time of the party.
• Determine the equipment needed, especially for the entertainment.

Thinking about the decoration

The decoration depends on the theme. For a "white Christmas", a tree in this colour with silver or white garlands and baubles is more suitable.

• To keep the natural Christmas tree longer, put it in a bucket filled with sand and mixed with water.
• To avoid being pricked by thorns when disposing of the tree, it is advisable to put it in a bag dedicated to this purpose.
• Turn the small branches of the tree into a table bouquet or a wreath. Then add a candle to create a warm atmosphere.
• In the other corners of the room, don't hesitate to use (scent-free) candles, baubles and mistletoe.

Next, think about decorating the windows and doors. Simply hang branches of fir on the top of the windows to have garland supports. For the table, holly and fir branches can be used as a centrepiece. Three colours are enough to avoid overdoing it: red candles, green baubles and golden pine cones.

As far as the tablecloth and napkins are concerned, it is best to keep to the same tones as the table decoration. There is nothing like a white tablecloth with golden stars scattered around it. This can be accompanied by red or green napkins with gold or white ribbons! Christmas Eve is the perfect time to bring out the silverware.

Thinking about the music and the meal

At home or at a company Christmas party, music is essential. Depending on the budget, you can hire a DJ, entertainers or a band. When choosing the entertainment, it is important to take into account the age range of the guests. For the meal, there is nothing like hiring a caterer to make the most of the party. A standing aperitif is sufficient for a company Christmas cocktail party. For a family Christmas feast, it is essential to provide a sufficient buffet. Some caterers offer special menus for those on a diet. In any case, an estimate is required before signing a contract. It gives an overview of the menu and the prices charged.

For a Christmas meal with family or friends, it is possible to serve an exotic or country-style meal if the theme is appropriate. However, it would be wrong to skip the traditional turkey, chestnuts, foie gras and log. As far as drinks are concerned, alcohol* is allowed if a shuttle service has been provided. Otherwise, it is better to opt for non-alcoholic drinks or mocktails. In any case, it is best to opt for self-service drinks so that you don't have to play bartender all evening.

Gifts: not to be forgotten

Christmas is above all a time for presents. It would therefore be unlikely to organise a reception without gifts. However, there is no question of ruining yourself or your guests. To avoid this, it is important to specify the maximum amount for gifts on the invitation.

To make the Christmas party unforgettable, you should not forget the photos. It is possible to find professionals on the Internet who rent photo booths. Also, the services of a photographer would not be out of place for a company Christmas party.

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Christmas Eve with your family

We all know that Christmas is an occasion for families to get together and have fun. It is a great moment of happiness! In order to enjoy this moment, it is essential to prepare in advance. Discover in this article the secrets to spend a wonderful Christmas with your family!

Tips for decorating your home for Christmas!

Christmas is one of the most important holidays of the year. It's a time for family reunions and good times. To get in the mood, it is imperative to decorate your flat in Christmas colours. The magic of Christmas comes from the interior and exterior decorations of the house. Twinkling lights are a symbol of the festive season. During the Christmas season, city streets are lit up at dusk. Why not do the same at home?

Decorate your interiors as well as your exteriors with wonderful garlands. The symbol of Christmas is the Christmas tree, so make a suitable space for one. You can make your own small wooden decorative trees. You can also decorate the interior of your design with Christmas skis and socks, pine cones, Christmas stars, etc.

The dining room should be the focus of your decoration. Indeed, at the end of the year, especially on Christmas Day, people often gather around a table. So to make these moments pleasant, the presentation of the table is a non-negligible detail. It must be well laid out. Make sure you have enough room for the number of people who will be dining with you on New Year's Eve. Clear the table of clutter. Place only a few plates, glasses, cutlery and install a few candles.

Christmas, an opportunity to dress up your look

Christmas is a great time to treat yourself to new clothes and outfits. On Christmas Day, put on the best outfit in your wardrobe: leave room for chic on this special day, whether on Christmas Eve or the day after. Choose outfits that showcase your personality. Enhance these outfits with fancy accessories, which will give them even more candour.

Combining elegance and comfort is a winning combination! So dress up.

Christmas games for a nice family time

Do you want to spend a nice and original Christmas time with your family? Why not organise a lot of games that will make these moments unforgettable? Let your creativity run wild! Pastry workshop, puppet shows, singing contest, dice hunt, Santa's phone game, Santa's beard, these games will only make your moments more enjoyable. Indeed, the organisation of the board games will make the family reunion a joyful moment. The children will be delighted and everyone will be able to participate in the party in their own way! In short, in order to prolong the tender moment of dinner, board games will do the trick.

Have you heard of the living Christmas tree game? Believe us, it's a great game to play on Christmas Eve. To do this, create two teams. In each team, name one person to be the tree. Use paper, embellishments, lights and any other ornamental objects and have the chosen person dress up to create a living Christmas tree. The team that presents the prettiest human tree will be the winner. Oh what a wonder!!!

Apart from the live Christmas tree game, you can also choose a very fun game: Christmas drawing. The Christmas drawing will give you a great time. To make it, get some paper plates and pencils. Everyone is a player here. Place the plates on your heads and one of you guides the process by giving instructions. First, draw a line to make the floor and then draw a tree. After that, draw a chimney next to the tree, adding a sock on top of it. Remove the plates from the heads and look at everyone's masterpiece.

Finally, if the little ones have gone to bed (dreaming of the presents Santa will put under the tree), why not end the evening with some fun games? Games such as Time's Up, Pictionnary, Court-Circuit (there are lots of others!) will allow the evening to end on a high note while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

Photo sessions, a good way to immortalise happy moments

To immortalise moments, take photos. There's nothing more important than immortalising moments of joy, especially those you spend with loved ones. Christmas is the time to take pictures of the family, the presents, the turkey, the cat..., and so on. Take the coolest (not to mention the craziest!) photos during Christmas games, or any other moment you think would be useful to capture.

Get yourself a special Christmas photobooth, and you can take some very funny pictures using themed props: Christmas hats, fancy glasses... All these pictures will give you joy in your heart, because you will see later how your family has grown over the years. And you will also enjoy remembering the traditions and stories of this fabulous Christmas.

Reinforce the magic of Christmas with Santa's footprints

To top it all off, leave traces of Santa's visit. If you are spending Christmas with children, it is important that they feel the magic of the holiday. The existence of Father Christmas is a mystery to children.

Dress up as Father Christmas, listen to Christmas songs together, tell Christmas stories if possible, and... leave footprints in the snow, half-eaten cakes, a red hat on the doorstep... In fact, all sorts of signs that Father Christmas has been around. It will only add to the magic of Christmas!

Gifts, the heart of Christmas!

You can't talk about Christmas without talking about presents! One of the first things people look forward to during Christmas, especially children (but not only!), are presents. Indeed, more than a tradition, gifts are the backbone of Christmas. Treat your loved ones to gifts that meet their wishes. This will prove your love for them.

Giving a present is a wonderful thing: try to personalise these gifts as much as possible! This will show the recipients how much you care.

As for the ideal time to give gifts? There are two schools of thought: give them at midnight or the next day, on Christmas Day. It's up to you: stick to your usual routine and the moment is bound to be pleasant.

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Christmas fruit cakes recipe

Cooking recipes - Desserts - How to make Christmas fruit cakes?

Ingredients :

• 2 cups currants
• 2 cups candied citrus peel mix
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped candied pineapple
• 1 1/2 cups candied red cherries, halved
• 1 1/2 cups sultanas
• 1 cup dark rum or brandy
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup strawberry jam
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Preparation :

In a large bowl, combine currants, citrus peel, pineapple, cherries, sultanas and 3/4 cup (180 ml) rum. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours (stirring occasionally).

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the dry ingredients to the macerated candied fruit and mix. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter with brown sugar, jam and molasses until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the remaining dry ingredients all at once until the batter is smooth. Add the candied fruit mixture and nuts and mix. Pour batter into a 13" x 9" (33 cm x 23 cm) parchment-lined cake pan and smooth the top.

Place a cake pan filled halfway with water on the bottom rack of a preheated 300ºF (150ºC) oven. Place the cake on the middle rack and bake for 1 hour. Loosely cover the top of the cake with foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean but slightly sticky. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely.

Unmould the cake and remove the parchment paper. Using a double layer of cheesecloth, cut out a 16-inch (40 cm) square and dip in the remaining rum. Wrap the cake in the rum-soaked cheesecloth, then in plastic wrap and finally in aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 1 month. (The cake will keep for up to 3 months in the refrigerator).

When ready to give, cut the cake into 6 bars.

A good tip

For a gourmet version: before wrapping the cake, you can top it with a thin layer of marzipan and then cream cheese icing.

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Curiosities about Christmas that most people don't know

Christmas is a universal celebration in which the whole world stops to celebrate the most magical night of the year. Although it is the same holiday, traditions change from culture to culture, giving Christmas different nuances in different countries. In this article, we have collected 15 curiosities about the holiday from around the world that will introduce you to different cultures and customs that you probably didn't know about.

In Sweden, Father Christmas is slightly different from the rest of the world. His name is Tomte, he is as small as an elf and he walks around with his goat Yule.

In Norway, as is the tradition, on 24 December all the brooms and tools used to clean the house are hidden. This is because it is said that at night evil witches come and steal all the brooms from the houses.

In the Czech Republic, there is a Christmas tradition that single women, with the door behind them, throw a shoe backwards. If it falls with the tip facing the door, it means that the woman will find love within the year.

The Statue of Liberty is perhaps the greatest Christmas present in history! It was given by the French to the United States on 25 December as a sign of friendship between the two peoples.

In Germany and Austria, there is the evil equivalent of St Nicholas. It is a demon called Krampus who has the task of punishing bad children; in some cities, during popular parades, some people wear the mask of these demons.

In the United States, in the state of Washington, there is a Christmas town called Leavensworth. With less than 2,000 inhabitants, this place is a perfect reproduction of a Bavarian village that transforms into a huge Christmas market during the Christmas season.

The Euphorbia Pulcherrima, or more commonly known as the Christmas star, is a plant native to Mexico that can grow up to 4 metres. In ancient times, the Aztecs used it to obtain red pigments.

In Ukraine, spider webs are used for decoration because they are believed to bring good luck.

The longest Christmas lunch is probably eaten in Poland, where the tradition is to have 12 courses, one for each apostle.

In Serbia, presents are unwrapped two weeks before Christmas Eve. Children during this period "kidnap and bind" mothers and demand a ransom which is usually repaid in gifts.

In Spain, the nativity scene is an important tradition; in Catalonia, the figure of the "caganer", i.e. a shepherd who does his business, is one of the figurines. He is considered a good luck charm in Spanish culture.

In South Africa, the traditional holiday dish is fried insects.

In Brazil, it is believed that "Papi Noel" comes from Greenland, and for this reason, when he arrives in Brazil, he wears only silk clothes because of the high temperature.

In Japan, Christmas is very different from the way we know it. It is much more like Valentine's Day where everyone exchanges gifts and the tradition is to eat fried chicken preferably from the KFC fast food chain.

In the United States, Christmas decorations are loved by everyone, so real competitions are held.

These Christmas-themed curiosities are sure to amaze at lunch with the family!

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