US Consulate General in Vladivostok Temporarily Closed

VLADIVOSTOK. November 25. VOSTOK-MEDIA – Tomorrow November 26, the United States of America celebrates Thanksgiving Day. Due to the national holiday the US Consulate General in Vladivostok will be closed.

Thanksgiving is considered by many Americans as one of the major national holidays. The history of Thanksgiving dates back to 1621, when Pilgrims came to America seeking religious freedom. Pilgrims following a severe winter, during which more than half of early settlers died, asked Indians for help. The Indians taught them how to grow corn and other crops. They had a great harvest in autumn and to thank God they had a great feast.

The settlers invited the Indians to the feast to give them thanks for the help. Indians offered their own food and since then every Thanksgiving table has always included as a permanent fixture dishes prepared by pilgrims and Indians such as roast stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, yams and pumpkin pie. By convention, before proceeding to the festive meal, whether it is in the bosom of one’s family or among friends, one gives thanks to God for His blessings as well as for joy of meeting on occasion of the holiday.

The Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the last Thursday of November but many Americans take a day off on Friday and have a total of four day-offs, which allows them to take long-distance pleasure trips and to visit their relatives or friends. That’s why the Thanksgiving Day is the busiest travel season in airports, passenger stations and highways.

Over the years, Americans have added new traditions to their Thanksgiving celebration such as watching football together on TV or “door-buster” sales held by the US retail chains on Friday following the holiday.

On Friday November 27, Robin Shifrin, an English language teaching expert, will hold a presentation on the Thanksgiving Day in the American Corner of Gorky Library, a spokesman for the US Consulate General in Vladivostok told RIA Vostok-Media.