Le 22 novembre, c'est Thanksgiving

La fête de Thanksgiving, ou Action de Grâce, est célébrée aux Etats-Unis le 4ème jeudi de novembre (Au Canada, c'est le 2ème lundi d'octobre).

Elle a été illustrée par Norman Rockwell dans son tableau Freedom from Want (1943) que vous retrouverez également en p.91 de votre manuel de 1ère L/ES/S.

La période de Thanksgiving est celle de la fin des récoltes: avec cette fête, les premiers Pélerins ont souhaité remercier Dieu pour la nourriture ainsi obtenue. Mais ils ont aussi voulu rendre hommage aux Indiens, qui les ont aidés à s'installer en leur apprenant des techniques de récolte, de pêche...

http://www.bfeedme.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/pumpkin-pie-recipe-11-8-2006.jpg

Au menu du repas de Thanksgiving figurent traditionnellement la dinde (comme sur le tableau) et la pumpkin pie ou tarte à la citrouille, dont voici la recette:
http://www.cuisineaz.com/Recettes/Pumpkin-pie-(Tarte-au-potiron)-5567.aspx

Pour les plus courageux, voici une version en Anglais:
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/pumpkinpie.php

Cet article de Wikipédia vous en apprendra davantage sur Thanksgiving:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

Tourists to South Africa

Voici une liste de questions (véridiques!) envoyées sur le site internet d'un Office de Tourisme sud-africain.

Elles valent le détour... tout comme les réponses!

Q: Does it ever get windy in South Africa ? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? ( UK )
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see elephants in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Durban to Cape Town - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only two thousand kilometres take lots of water...

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in South Africa ? ( Sweden )
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in South Africa ? Can you send me a list of them in JHB, Cape Town , Knysna and Jeffrey's Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about Koala Bear racing in South Africa? (USA )
A: Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific.A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe which does not.... oh forget it.
Sure, the Koala Bear racing is every Tuesday night in Hillbrow. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is north in South Africa ? ( USA )
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into South Africa ? ( UK )
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Do you have perfume in South Africa ? ( France )
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in South Africa ? ( France )
A: Only at Christmas.

Q: Are there killer bees in South Africa ? ( Germany )
A: Not yet, but for you, we'll import them.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Cape Town and is milk available all year round? (Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegetarian hunter- gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in South Africa who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca, which is where YOU come from. All South African snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.