CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS WEIRD AMERICAN TRADITIONS WARM-UP SPEAKING Conoscete tradizioni particolari del vostro territorio? Fate un elenco alla lavagna, descrivete brevemente cosa celebrano, quali sono i piatti tipici e le peculiarità dell'evento (giochi, parate, ecc...). Even though the USA is a relatively young nation, it has developed its own share of traditions. Some of them are famous everywhere in the world, such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day and Halloween. But there are some less-known, weird and funny customs that make the USA a bizarre and unique country. Presidential turkey pardons Since the 1940s, US presidents have been presented with a Thanksgiving turkey at a special ceremony and sometimes they have spared the bird's life by officially "pardoning" it. In 1989, President George Bush Senior made the turkey pardon a permanent part of Thanksgiving ceremony, so now it's an annual event. The happy pardoned turkeys can go back safe and sound to their farm to live a happy life - which usually lasts less than a year because the birds are so overfed that they die for problems related to obesity. Anyway, there is no special meaning or symbolic reason for this ritual, weird, isn't it? Groundhog' Day On February 2nd every year, groundhogs become the most watched and popular animals in America as they have been since the 18th century: they are carefully observed because they foretell seasonal change. Folklore says that if it is cloudy, the groundhog will come out of its burrow and spring will soon come; if it is sunny, it will come out, immediately return to the burrow and winter will continue for six more weeks. Weather reports show that groundhogs have been correct about 39% of the time. Pumpkin Chunkin' Pumpkin is a very popular ingredient in many typical American dishes: pumpkin pie, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin soup, etc. These huge orange fruits are also the protagonists of an annual competition started in Delaware in 1986. Participants throw pumpkins in the air as far as possible using trebuchets , catapults, and even air cannons. Apparently, the farthest flew for 1.4km and the fastest was faster than sound! The competition lasts three days, it is a crazy, family event and is usually held in October. And what about the prize for the winner? Well, no money but a trophy and lots of fun. GLOSSARY : : : : : : : : : : : : annoying fastidioso burrow tana carefully attentamente commercial pubblicità to chunk fare a pezzi to foretell prevedere groundhog marmotta to overfeed sovralimentare safe and sound sano e salvo share quota, parte to spare risparmiare trebuchet catapulta