Eight other holidays are uniquely American (although some of them have counterparts in other nations). For most Americans, two of these stand out above the others as occasions to cherish national origins: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. n Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans take a day of vacation on the following a Friday to make a four-day weekend, during which they may travel long distances to visit family and friends. The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, determined to practice their dissentingreligion without interference. After a rough winter in which about half of them died, they turned for help to neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant fo and other crops. The next fall's st inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The hanksgiving bountiful ha feast became a ational tradition not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrim sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being United for the occasion.