美國每年一度的感恩節(Thanksgiving)是家人和朋友團聚的日子。在這一天，親朋好友共進傳統風格的大餐，對生活中的諸多恩惠表示感激。還有很多人為鄰里社群的其他人提供服務。
感恩節的由來(雙語)
This week, across the Pacific, Americans are busy polishing off slices of turkey and pie, as part of the annual Thanksgiving holiday.
本週，太平洋彼岸的美國人正在熱火朝天地烤火雞和餡餅，這是他們每年感恩節的一部分。
When the fourth Thursday in November rolls around, Americans gather around their dinner tables, appetites in tow, to re-live the 1621 Plymouth feast. It’s a celebration of the country’s Pilgrim ancestors, who escaped religious persecution in England by sailing to Plymouth.
每年11月的第四個星期四，美國人都會團聚一堂，帶著滿滿的食慾坐在餐桌邊，重溫1620xx年普利茅斯的盛宴。這是清教徒祖先流傳下來的慶典，當年他們為了逃離英國的宗教迫害，遠渡重洋來到了普利茅斯。
The first Thanksgiving is depicted as a rosy affair: grateful Pilgrims break bread with their newfound Native American friends. But there’s renewed interest in muddying this tidy narrative. After all, colonization didn’t end so cheerily for Native Americans.
第一個感恩節被描繪成美好的事件：心存感激的清教徒和他們新發現的印第安朋友一起用餐。不過現在有人燃起了攪亂這種共識的興趣。畢竟，對印第安人而言，殖民並不是在愉快的氛圍中結束的。
The character of Squanto, for instance, is portrayed in Thanksgiving stories as a kind-hearted indigenous translator who shared helpful farming tips with the Europeans. But what most stories fail to mention is how bleak Squanto’s life really was.
以斯匡託這個人物為例，在有關感恩節的故事裡，他常被描述為熱心的土著翻譯，他和歐洲移民分享有用的農業小竅門。但大多數的故事並沒有提及斯匡託真實的悲慘人生。
Europeans had previously captured Squanto and forced him into slavery. That’s how he was able to speak English when the Pilgrims arrived. The arrival of European diseases also left Squanto without a home. His community of Patuxet had all but died out.
歐洲人早前就俘虜了斯匡託，逼迫他成為奴隸。這就是為什麼當英國清教徒到達普利茅斯時，他就能說英語了。歐洲傳來的疾病也讓斯匡託失去了家人。他所在的帕丟賽特部落幾近滅絕。
The reaction against Thanksgiving–as a sanitized, European-focused holiday – started decades and decades ago. Native American groups have been celebrating “Un-Thanksgiving” since the 1970s. The celebration started as a protest to protect indigenous rights.
幾十年前，反對感恩節的活動就開始了，這個節日被認為是使同化的，以歐洲人為中心的。從20世紀70年代開始，印第安人開始慶祝“非感恩節”。這個節日最早是保護美洲原住民權利的一項抗議。
But this year, mainstream media organizations like Buzzfeed and the National Geographic Channel are confronting the myths surrounding Thanksgiving. The four-hour Saints & Strangers miniseries is National Geographic’s attempt to go “beyond the familiar historical account of Thanksgiving”.
不過今年，主流媒體，如新聞聚合網站Buzzfeed和國家地理頻道都在和感恩節神話進行對壘。國家地理頻道推出的四小時迷你劇《聖徒與陌生人》就試圖“顛覆大家熟悉的感恩節演變史”。
“So many people celebrate Thanksgiving every year, but I think most people have no idea what the story is behind it,” Saints & Strangers star Kalani Queypo told Indian Country Today.
《聖徒與陌生人》的主演蓋拉尼?奎珀告訴印第安國度每日媒體網路：“每年都有很多人慶祝感恩節，但我認為大部分人都不知道它背後的故事。”
Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday to be criticized for its simplistic depiction of colonialism. Columbus Day, the October holiday that celebrates explorer Christopher Columbus, is also coming under fire.
因為簡化對殖民主義的描述而被詬病的節日不僅只有感恩節。每年10月紀念探險家克里斯托佛?哥倫布的哥倫布日也飽受爭議。
Columbus is famous for “discovering” the New World. But historical documents show that he helped expand the slave trade to the Caribbean by using violence against the native people.
哥倫布以“發現”新大陸而聞名。不過歷史資料記載他是武力鎮壓原住民，將奴隸貿易擴充套件到哥倫比亞地區的幫凶。
Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Missoula, Montana, marked 20xx by replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Even the Los Angeles city council considered dumping Columbus Day this year, according to the Los Angeles Times.
密歇根州的安娜堡市和蒙大納州的米拉蘇市在20xx年以土著人民日取代了哥倫比亞日。據《洛杉磯時報》報道，就連洛杉磯市議會都考慮過取消今年的哥倫比亞日。
“Los Angeles is the most culturally diverse city in the United States, and we must find a way to honor the profound sacrifices made by countless tribal members through the centuries,” city council member Mitch O’Farrell told the newspaper.
市議會成員米奇?奧法雷爾告訴《洛杉磯時報》：“洛杉磯是全美城市中文化最多元的，我們必須找到方法紀念幾百年來為我們的國家做出重大犧牲的部落同胞。”
Some other countries are also questioning how to remember their colonial past. On May 26, Australia observes National Sorry Day, which commemorates the aboriginal children who were taken from their homes to be “re-educated” with Western culture.
還有一些國家也在爭論該如何紀念它們的被殖民歲月。5月26日，澳大利亞慶祝了國家道歉日，紀念那些被迫離開家人，接受西方文化再教育的土著兒童。
感恩節的由來、習俗你都知道嗎?(中英雙語)
文化背景
當時只有英國，沒有美國。英國本土的清教徒對宗教改革不滿意，又為了避免早受益迫害，102位清教徒便乘坐歷史上有名的“五月花”號船，在一個寒冷的冬天到達美洲。90名印第安人給他們送來了生活必需品，還特地派人教他們怎樣狩獵、捕魚和種植玉米、南瓜，於是他們有了大豐收，便和這些印第安人一同慶祝，感謝上帝的帶領，也感謝他們的幫助。這是歷史上的第一個感恩節。
Indian
Why is it important?
ksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, a different date every ksgiving is a time for tradition and sharing.2. Even if they live far away, family members gather for a reunion at the house of an older relative. All give thanks together for the good things that they have.
What do they eat?
ey, corn, pumpkins and cranberry sauce(小紅莓調味醬汁)are symbols which represent the first Thanksgiving. Now all of these symbols are drawn on holiday decorations and greeting cards. The use of corn meant the survival of the colonies(殖民). "Indian corn" as a table or door decoration represents the harvest and the fall season.
感恩節的由來
Thanksgiving Day is the most truly American of the national holidays in the United Stales and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country.
感恩節是美國國定假日中最地道、最美國式的節日，而且它和早期美國曆史最為密切相關。
In 1620, the settlers, or Pilgrims, they sailed to America on the May flower, seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship. After a tempestuous two-month voyage they landed at an icy November, what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.
1620xx年，一些朝聖者(或稱為清教徒)乘坐 "五月花"號船去美國尋求宗教自由。他們在海上顛簸折騰了兩個月之後，終於在酷寒的十一月裡，在現在的馬薩諸塞州的普里茅斯登陸。
Mayflower
During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation or epidemics. Those who survived began sowing in the first spring. All summer long they waited for the harvests with great anxiety, knowing that their lives and the future existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest. Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations. And therefore it was decided that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed. Years later, President of the United States proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day every y-ear The celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been observed on that dale until today.
在第一個冬天，半數以上的移民都死於飢餓和傳染病，活下來的人們在第一個春季開始播種。整個夏天他們都熱切地盼望著豐收的到來，他們深知自己的生存以及殖民地的存在與否都將取決於即將到來的收成。後來，莊稼獲得了意外的豐收，所以大家決定要選一個日子來感謝上帝的恩典。多年以後，美國總統宣佈每年十一月的第四個星期四為感恩節。感恩節反祝活動使定在這一天，直到今天。
The pattern of the Thanksgiving celebration has never changed through the years. The big family dinner is planned months ahead. On the dinner table, people will find apples, oranges, chestnuts, walnuts and grapes. There will be plum pudding, mince pie, other varieties of food and cranberry juice and squash The best and most attractive among them are roast turkey and pumpkin pie. They have been the most traditional and favorite food on Thanksgiving Day throughout the years.
感恩節慶祝模式許多年來從未改變。豐盛的家宴早在幾個月之前就開始著手準備。人們在餐桌上可以吃到蘋果、桔子、採子、胡桃和葡萄，還有葡萄乾布丁、碎肉餡餅、各種其它食物以及紅莓苔汁和鮮果汁，其中最妙和最吸引人的大菜是烤火雞和南瓜餡餅，這些菜一直是感恩節中最富於傳統意義和最受人喜愛的食品。
Thanksgiving today is, in every sense， a national annual holiday on which Americans of all faiths and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year's bounty and reverently ask for continued blessings.
今天的感恩節是一個不折不扣的國定假日。在這一天，具有各種信仰和各種背景的美國人，共同為他們一年來所受到的上蒼的恩典表示感謝，虔誠地祈求上帝繼續賜福。
thankful
For all that I have and all that I lack
For radiant smiles and tears held back
For joy and fear, triumph and strife
I give thanks today for the gift of my life
感謝我的一切所有和不曾得到
感謝燦爛笑容和強忍的淚水
感謝喜悅與恐懼、勝利與失意的陪伴
此時此刻，我感謝生命，感謝它的贈予
Thanks for everything I have in life! Including U :)
補充版：
感恩節(Thanksgiving Day)是美國人民獨創的一個古老節日，也是美國人閤家歡聚的節日。1941年，美國正式將每年11月第四個星期四定為“感恩節”。感恩節假期一般會從星期四持續到星期天。
節日起源
17世紀，英國清教徒不堪忍受英國國內宗教迫害，乘著“五月花”號船到達美洲。在印第安人的幫助下，移民們學會了狩獵、捕魚和種植玉米、南瓜等。到了冬天，他們獲得了豐收，在歡慶豐收的日子，按照宗教傳統習俗，移民規定了感謝上帝的日子，並決定為感謝印第安人的真誠幫助，邀請他們一同慶祝節日。
1988年在紐約市的聖約翰大教堂舉行了一場別開生面的感恩節晚宴，美國人公開承認印第安土著對於美國第一次感恩節的貢獻，並感謝印第安人分享他們的經驗和技巧。沒有印第安人的教導，最初的清教徒移民不可能在美洲存活下來。
節日象徵
火雞、玉米、南瓜和紅莓醬是代表第一次感恩節的象徵。這些象徵經常出現在假日的裝飾上和問候卡上。特別是玉米，代表清教徒移民的死中求生經歷。用在餐桌或門上的裝飾，玉米代表著收穫和秋天。
風俗習慣
團聚
在美國，像中國的春節一樣，感恩節當天，成千上萬的人們不管多忙，都要和自己的家人團聚。全國各地，丈夫和妻子、孩子和老人，從市到鎮、從鎮到鄉、從鄉到莊，都回到老家共度節日。回不了家的人也打長途電話和父母家人暢談，分享感恩的事。
晚宴
感恩節的晚宴是美國人一年中很重視的一餐。這一餐的食物非常之豐富。在餐桌上，火雞和南瓜餅都是必備的。
火雞是感恩節的傳統主菜，通常是把火雞肚子裡塞上各種調料和拌好的食品，然後整隻烤出，雞皮烤成深棕色，由男主人用刀切成薄片分給大家。
遊行
每逢感恩節這一天，美國舉國上下熱鬧非凡，城鄉市鎮到處舉行化裝遊行、戲劇表演和體育比賽等，學校和商店也都按規定放假休息。孩子們還模仿當年印第安人的模樣穿上離奇古怪的服裝，畫上臉譜或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。
購物
感恩節第二天的週五稱為“黑色星期五”。之所以叫這個名字，據說是因為在這一天，美國的各種商店都會對商品進行打折銷售，所以週五這天一大早，所有人都要摸著黑衝到商場排隊買便宜貨，提前開始血拼“黑色星期五”。
節日遊戲
南瓜賽跑
比賽者用一把小勺推著南瓜跑，規則是絕對不能用手碰南瓜，先到終點者獲獎。比賽用的勺子越小，遊戲就越有意思。
感恩節祝福語
洋氣的寫幾句英文吧
Thanksgiving wishes for you and your family.
給你們全家感恩節的祝福。
Warm wishes at Thanksgiving.
在感恩節，衷心地祝福你們。
I wish you could be here on Thanksgiving.
但願你能來過感恩節。
It will be sad not to see you during the holiday when families get together.
家人團聚的節日裡，不能看到你，我會感到難過。
Our first Thanksgiving should be our best.
我們第一次共度的感恩節是我們最美好的時光。
I wouldn't want to spend Thanksgiving with anyone else.
我只願和你共度感恩節。
Thanksgiving just won't be the same without you.
沒有你，感恩節就不會一樣了。
This will be our first Thanksgiving apart.
這將是我們第一次不在一起過感恩節。
Thanksgiving is a time when I tell you that I love you.
感恩節就是我告訴你我愛你的時候。
Thanksgiving is a great time to tell you that we love you kids.
孩子們，感恩節這時刻，我們要說：我們愛你們。
Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year.
感恩節是一年中最好的節日。
I love to eat, so I love Thanksgiving.
我愛吃，所以我愛感恩節。
I hope you are feeling thankful after your supper.
希望你吃過晚飯後有感恩的心情。
I will be home for Thanksgiving, so save a little turkey for me.
我會回家過感恩節，所以請留點兒火雞給我。
Have a MID-FULL Thanksgiving!
感恩節請勿暴飲暴食!
Have a FULL Thanksgiving day!
感恩節快樂!好好吃一頓吧!
For all the days that I have been lonely,
在我孤獨寂寞之時，
for all the times that I have felt blue,
在我憂傷痛苦之時，
for all the times I needed a shoulder to lean on.
在我需要依靠之時，
Thanks for being there as a friend so true!
感謝有你，我真誠的朋友!
Happy Thanksgiving!
感恩節快樂!
You are the joy of my life.
是你給我帶來了歡笑。
From childhood through adulthood, the sharing continues!
從小到大，未曾間斷!
Happy Thanksgiving day!
我的朋友，感恩節快樂!
Just dig into the roast turkey.
好好享受美味的感恩節火雞吧!
Wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
願你有個美好的感恩節!
A card can say more than a thousand words.
一張卡片勝過千言萬語。
Happy Thanksgiving day!
感恩節快樂，我的朋友!
三優範文網