As celebrated in the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving usually centers on a big meal. Typical dishes include bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and above all, turkey. How did turkey become the centerpiece (最重要的菜) of this meal?

It is often assumed that today’s Thanksgiving menu originated in an event commonly considered as the “first Thanksgiving”. There is indeed evidence of a meal shared between Pilgrim settlers and Wampanoag people in late 1621, but historians think it’s not sure that turkey was served. They believe that the Pilgrims provided wild fowl (飞禽), while the Wampanoag brought deer for meat. Passenger pigeons, ducks, and other birds may have been the main course. Turkey, if present, was likely a side dish.

In 1789, George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation (正式公告), marking the first official celebration of Thanksgiving in the US. However, turkeys were not yet related to Thanksgiving. About 38 years later, the writer Sarah Josepha described a New England Thanksgiving, with a roasted turkey placed at the head of the table in her novel Northwood. In 1863, after President Abraham Lincoln announced Thanksgiving a national holiday, and turkey has since become a cherished tradition in Thanksgiving celebrations.

At that time, Americans didn’t have access to supermarkets. But large numbers of wild turkeys lived on many people’s land, making them easy to get for the big meal. Compared to more expensive meats, turkey also provided a much lower price and could feed larger groups of people because it weighed more. These made turkey a practical and appealing choice, contributing to its long-lasting popularity as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving feasts.

Today, turkey continues to stand as the star of the Thanksgiving feast, symbolizing tradition, warmth, and the cherished moments shared with loved ones around the table.

UNI’s Northern Festival of Bands

The Northern Festival of Bands is a yearly weekend band festival for high school band students, who perform in bands led by nationally famous conductors. They will take masterclasses with University of Northern Iowa (UNI) students, give performances and enjoy performances given by UNI’s great bands. In 2021, the festival is still scheduled to be held in February.

● Application

The Northern Festival of Bands offers three festival bands: Wind Orchestra, Symphony Band, and Concert Band. Students are selected on the basis of the application forms provided by each school and director. In some cases a student may wish to attend even if their school isn’t attending. In these cases, the application must still be made by the high school band director. All applications should be provided by December 2, 2019 on our website.

● Auditions (试演)

Students accepted into the festival bands will audition between 4:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. on February 13.

● Concert Dress

Performance dress will be the dress normally worn by each school for performances.

● Solo (独奏) Competition

Students accepted into the festival are welcome to audition for the Solo Competition. The winner will perform at the final festival concert on Saturday afternoon and receive an award of $6,000.00 over a four-year period. The award is limited to students who wish to take a music degree at UNI.

If you need further information, please get in touch with Danny Galyen at danny.galyen@uni.edu!

With several hundred festivals all over the world – there are plenty to chose from! And if you arrive here via our Best Festivals in the World web page — we hope you find what you are looking for!

1. Black-Neck Crane Festival

Where: Gangtey Goemba, Bhutan

When: Early November

In one of the oldest Nyingmapa monasteries (修道院) of Bhutan, tourists and locals fill the courtyard to celebrate the return of the endangered Black-necked Crane. The elegant bird is a symbol of longevity in Bhutan and features heavily in their folktales. It’s a single-day event with folk dancing, crane (鹤) costumes, and performances by local school children.

2. Holi Festival

Where: India/Parkistan

When: March

Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil, and starts the new year with the arrival of spring. It’s a time of forgiveness, renewing relationships, and looking forward to the future. There are several explanations for the origins of the festival in Hindu lore, but whatever its true origin, the tradition is ancient, and devotees gather to perform religious ceremonies. The next day, celebrations explode as people flood the streets with water balloons, water guns, and colored powders, showing the simple joys of life.

3. King’s Day

Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands

When: April 27

This annual festival, celebrating the birthday of the king of William Alexander of the House of Orange, symbolically turns Amsterdam orange. Besides, most of the city transforms into a giant market. Street vendors (摊贩) and private citizens come out to sell everything imaginable. A boat parade hits the famous waterways. Public squares come alive with DJs and live music shows.

If you are looking for more information, please click here!