Many countries throughout the world have a harvest festival of some kind．In North America，Thanksgiving is the most common celebration，but what does it really mean？（36）___

Explain the ancient origins of the harvest festival to your children．In ancient times，people of many cultures gave thanks to their gods for a successful harvest，and some of the modern Thanksgiving celebrations have their roots in these ancient festivals．（37）___

Explain when and why Thanksgiving became an official holiday．In 1863，President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving should be a national festival from then on．This was a way to brighten the spirits of the American people．（38）___

Explain that one way of Thanksgiving involves gratitude for having enough food to eat，and encourage your children to help you buy groceries for the food bank，or make a donation to a local soup kitchen．

Talk turkey．The wild turkey is native to the eastern states and northern Mexico．But it probably wasn't served at the first Thanksgiving feast．（39）___

（40）___ Many books that discuss the Thanksgiving tradition from a variety of different perspectives（角度） are available for readers of all ages．

While you may want your children to understand the true history of the Thanksgiving holiday，try to make them know the joy of the harvest feast，too．It is now a time for people to celebrate with family and friends and to be grateful for what they have．

A．It has become a symbol of the holiday．

B．Where could you enjoy a real Thanksgiving？

C．And how could you explain it to your children？

D．Discuss the roots of the American Thanksgiving celebration．

E．Tell the children the way people celebrate Thanksgiving in the world．

F．And also it's a good way to let the people remember them．

G．Offer your children some books．