感恩节-Thanksgiving Day

The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.

乘"五月花"，他们的家在英国，，他们逃亡到荷兰。在荷兰，他们享受了更多的宗教，但最终却意识到在荷兰的这种生活方式是对他们的主的亵渎。为了寻求更好的生活，他们与伦敦贸易公司协商，由该公司资助他们到美国。在这趟旅途中，船上只有大约1/3的乘客是，其他大多数人并非分离派，而是公司雇佣来保护其利益的人员（契约奴）。

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

1620年12月11日，旅行者们在"普利茅斯石"登陆。他们的第一个冬季是灾难性的，第二年秋天来临时，原来的102名乘客只剩下56人。但1621年他们获得了大丰收，这些幸存的殖民者们决定和帮助他们度过困难的91名印第安人一起飨宴庆祝。他们相信，若没有当地居民的帮助，他们是不可能度过这一年的。这次节日的盛宴不仅仅是一个"感恩"仪式，它更像英国传统的丰收庆典。庆典持续了三天。

Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.

总督布雷德福派了“四人捕鸟队”去捕捉野鸭和野鹅。我们现在并不能确定是否有野生火鸡在当时的筵席上，但筵席上肯定有鹿肉。当时，朝圣者用 "火鸡"一词来代表各种野禽。

Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.

现在，几乎每家感恩节餐桌上都有南瓜馅饼――感恩节的另一种主食。但在当年的第一次庆典上却不可能有这种食品。因为面粉奇缺，所以面包、馅饼、糕点等食物都没有。但他们却吃了煮南瓜，并用收获的玉米制成了一种油炸面包。也没有牛奶、苹果酒、土豆和黄油。没有驯养的奶牛，自然没有牛奶；而新发现的土豆被很多欧洲人认为是有毒的。第一次庆典上有鱼、草莓、豆瓣菜、龙虾、干果、蛤、鹿肉、李子等。

Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons.

在美国，感恩节是一个感谢恩赐，家庭团聚，合家欢宴的日子；是一个家家餐桌上都有火鸡、填料、南瓜馅饼的日子；是一个充满了印第安玉米、假日游行和巨型气球的日子。

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade-梅西感恩节大游行

In the 1920's many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage， they wanted to celebrate the American holiday with the type of festival they loved in Europe.

由美国著名的梅西百货公司创立。从1920年起，梅西百货公司的职员有许多都是来自欧洲的第一代移民。他们决定以欧洲的传统方式来欢庆感恩节。由此开始，这种庆祝方式一直延续到今天。

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade usually starts at 9 o'clock in the morning and lasts for three hours.

梅西的感恩节大游行通常在早晨9点钟开始，会持续3个小时。

感恩节重点词汇

• Thanksgiving Day 感恩节

  
  

• Happy Thanksgiving! 感恩节快乐！

  
  

• Let's give thanks.

  让我们说些感谢的话。

  
  

• traditional holiday feast

  传统的节日大餐

  
  

• magnificent Thanksgiving dinner

  丰盛的感恩节大餐

  
  

• propose a toast 敬酒

  
  

• roast turkey 烤火鸡

  
  

• pumpkin pie 南瓜派

  
  

• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

  梅西感恩节大游行

  
  

• Black Friday 黑色星期五

感恩节祝贺语

1. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!大家感恩节快乐！

   
   

2. Since it's Thanksgiving Day, let's join hands and give thanks before the traditional holiday feast.既然是感恩节，在享受节日大餐之前，让我们手拉着手说些感谢的话吧。

   
   

3. We've just finished this magnificent Thanksgiving dinner and I have a mouthful of pumpkin pie.我们刚结束这顿丰盛的感恩节大餐，我一嘴都是南瓜派。

   
   

4. Everyone, let's propose a toast before enjoy the delicious turkey.享用美味的火鸡前让我们一起干一杯。

   
   

5. Are you ready for the Black Friday shopping frenzy?你们准备好应对黑色星期五的购物狂潮了吗？

   
   

从感恩节第二天（星期五）到圣诞节这一个月是美国各商家的传统打折促销旺季，据说周五一大早就会有人摸黑在商场前排队，等待开门进去抢购。

感恩节怎样表达感谢

• appreciate 感谢

  
  

• be grateful/thankful for 感谢

  
  

• express someone’s gratitude

  表达某人的感激之情

  
  

• pray for 祈求

1. I really appreciate your hard work.我真的很感谢你们这样努力工作。

   
   

2. I'm thankful for Jack, he makes me feel loved and secure.我感谢杰克，他让我感受到爱和安全感。

   
   

3. I'm grateful for this beautiful family.感谢上帝赐予我这个美满的家庭。

   
   

4. It's Thanksgiving，I'd like to express my gratitude to all of you.今天是感恩节，我想对你们所有人表达我的感谢。

   
   

5. Let's pray for health, happiness and next year's harvest.让我们祈求健康，幸福以及明年的丰收。

   
   

6. Warm wishes at Thanksgiving.我在感恩节为你送上衷心地祝福。

   
   

7. Wish you a bountiful thanksgiving and may your coming year full of God's blessings.祝你度过一个丰富的感恩节，希望你的来年充满上帝的恩赐.