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Part 1 The History of Thanksgiving in the USA 感恩节的来历
The Thanksgiving holiday celebrated each November in the United States is known worldwide as an American custom. And Thanksgiving and gratitude have marked important milestones in American life for hundreds of years.
The first Americans observed rituals and ceremonies to express gratitude to a higher power for life itself. A Seneca Indian ritual, for example, states, "Our Creator ... Shall continue to dwell above the sky, and this is where those on the earth will end their thanksgiving." Another quotation attributed to American Indians before Columbus is, "The plant has its nourishment from the earth and its limbs go up this way, in praise of its Maker ... like the limbs of a tree."
The Pilgrims' First Harvest Feast
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.
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. The Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621 near Plymouth, Massachusetts, after their first harvest. This is the feast people often refer to as "The First Thanksgiving." This feast was never repeated, so it can't be called the start of a tradition, nor did the colonists or Pilgrims call it a Thanksgiving Feast. In fact, to these devoutly religious people, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting.
Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model for the Thanksgiving celebration in the United States. More than likely, this first harvest feast was eaten outside, based on the fact that the colonists didn't have a building large enough to accommodate all the people who came. Native Americans definitely were among the invited guests, and it's possible, even probable, that turkey, roasted but not stuffed, and pumpkin in some form found their way to the table. The feast went on for three days, included 90 "Indians," as Native Americans were called then, and had plentiful food. In addition to the venison provided by the Native Americans, there was enough wild fowl to supply the village for a week. The fowl included ducks, geese, turkeys and even swans.
New World With Many Cultural Influences
In addition to thanksgiving traditions brought to North America by settlers from many parts of the world, some authorities link the American thanksgiving with the ancient Jewish observance of Sukkot in the fall, which expresses thanks to God for the bounty of the earth.
Indeed, all the major world religions—including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam—have rituals, observances and liturgies that express thanks and gratitude to a higher power for the gift of life and its wonders. Regardless of the origin of the American Thanksgiving holiday, the following brief timeline shows its development.
Timeline of American Thanksgiving Holiday
In 1541, during Coronado's expedition a Eucharistic thanksgiving, with the friendly Teya Indians present, occurred in Palo Duro Canyon in West Texas.
Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed a harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. This feast may have become the model for today's American celebration.
Settlers and colonists from many continents brought customs of days of prayer and thanksgiving, especially in New England, where the first Thanksgiving of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was observed on July 8, 1630.
The first Thanksgiving of the new United States of America occurred in 1777 when General George Washington and his army, as instructed by the Continental Congress, stopped in bitter weather in the open fields on their way to Valley Forge to mark the occasion.
Washington's first proclamation after his inauguration as the nation's first president in 1789 declared November 26, 1789, as a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer." And the annual presidential thanksgiving proclamations ceased for 45 years in the early 1800s.
President Abraham Lincoln resumed the tradition in 1863.
On November 26, 1941 President Roosevelt signed the bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. Because two years out of every seven have five Thursdays in November, some states for the next 15 years celebrated on their own on the last Thursday. Since 1956, the fourth Thursday in November has been observed by every state.
In 1976, the 200th birthday year of America, the Chapel of Thanksgiving was consecrated. President Ford referred to it as "a major national shrine," and later President George Bush noted that it is "a symbol and a home for America's most beloved tradition."
The National Thanksgiving Commission was inaugurated at Valley Forge in 1977, where 200 years earlier General George Washington celebrated the first national Thanksgiving with his troops. Former President Ford became the Commission's honorary president, and Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady, became honorary vice president. Former Ambassador Armstrong is president of the commission.
Former Ambassador to Britain and Cabinet member Anne Armstrong asked President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to place the National Day of Prayer on its original spring date, which had been neglected for nearly two centuries.
The first Thursday in May has been the official day ever since, reviving the ancient "spring prayer and fall Thanksgiving" cycle of the Continental Congress. Congress unanimously confirmed the historic date in 1988.
Since 1981, a National Day of Prayer breakfast has been held in Dallas each May under the auspices of the National Thanksgiving Commission and Thanks-Giving Square.
The Wall of Presidents at Thanks-Giving Square
The Wall of Presidents at Thanks-Giving Square honors words expressed about Thanksgiving by American presidents over the past two centuries. Set in a grove of sweet gum trees in the Meditation Garden at Thanks-Giving Square, the Wall of Presidents was dedicated in November 1991 by President George Bush. The wall features quotes from Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Bush.
In dedicating the wall President Bush declared, "The Home of American Thanksgiving is dedicated in the name of presidents past, present and future." The dove that serves as the centerpiece of the exhibit was personally designed by George Washington and patterned after Noah's Dove of Thanksgiving. Washington used the dove design in the weathervane placed on the roof of his beloved home, Mount Vernon.
感恩节的由来要一直追溯到美国历史的发端。1620年，著名的“五月花”号船满载不堪忍受英国国内宗教迫害的清教徒102人到达美洲。1620年和1621年之交的冬天，他们遇到了难以想象的困难，处在饥寒交迫之中，冬天过去时，活下来的移民只有50来人。这时，心地善良的印第安人给移民送来了生活必需品，还特地派人教他们怎样狩猎、捕鱼和种植玉米、南瓜。在印第安人的帮助下，移民们终于获得了丰收，在欢庆丰收的日子，按照宗教传统习俗，移民规定了感谢上帝的日子，并决定为感谢印第安人的真诚帮助，邀请他们一同庆祝节日。
在第一个感恩节的这一天，印第安人和移民欢聚一堂，他们在黎明时鸣放礼炮，列队走进一间用作教堂的屋子，虔诚地向上帝表达谢意，然后点起篝火举行盛大宴会。第二天和第三天又举行了摔交、赛跑、唱歌、跳舞等活动。第一个感恩节非常成功。其中许多庆祝方式流传了300多年，一直保留到今天。
初时感恩节没有固定日期，由各州临时决定，直到美国独立后，感恩节才成为全国性的节日。 1863年，美国总统林肯正式宣布感恩节为国定假日。届时，家家团聚，举国同庆，其盛大、热烈的情形，不亚于中国人过春节。
Part 2 Thanksgiving Celebrations 庆祝感恩节
In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter. The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years.
Many Americans think of Thanksgiving as a wonderful time to celebrate getting out of school for a long weekend, and eating a great dinner. Or, maybe they think it is the start of the Christmas holiday season.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were also held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, tthe Chinese, and the Egyptians.
The Greeks
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess of corn (actually all grains) was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.
On the first day of the festival married women (possibility connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made - gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter's gratitude would grant them a good harvest.
The Romans
The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of corn ,from which the word cereal comes. The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast.
The Chinese
The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.
The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig, harvested fruits and the "moon cakes". It was believed that during the 3 day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.
The Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptian's harvest season.
Canada
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Observance of the day began in 1879.
每逢感恩节这一天，美国举国上下热闹非常。城乡市镇到处举行化装游行、戏剧表演和体育比赛等，学校和商店也都按规定放假体息。孩子们还模仿当年印第安人的模样穿上离奇古怪的服装，画上脸谱或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。当天教堂里的人也格外多，按习俗人们在这里都要做感恩祈祷。美国人从小就习惯独立生活，各奔东西。而在感恩节。他们总是力争从天南海北归来，一家人团团围坐在一起，大嚼美味火鸡，畅谈往事，这怎不使人感到分外亲切、温暖。
感恩节宴会后，人们有时会做些传统游戏，比如南瓜赛跑是比赛者用一把小勺推着南瓜跑，规则是不能用手碰南瓜，先到终点者获胜。比赛用的勺子越小，游戏就越有意思。
多少年来，庆祝感恩节的习俗代代相传，无论在岩石嶙峋的西海岸还是在风光旖旎的夏威夷，人们几乎在以同样的方式欢度感恩节，感恩节是不论何种信仰、何种民族的美国人都庆祝的传统节日。
加拿大感恩节与美国不同日，加拿大感恩节是在十月八日。我们在这里介绍了古代希腊、罗马、中国是怎样庆祝感恩节的，大家可以参考上面的英文部分。
Part 3 A Thanksgiving Party 感恩节聚会
Dialogue Script 1 对话原文 1
Sam: Wow, looks like we made it just in time. It's packed in there.
Jenny: Yeah, people always buy out the stores before the big holidays.
Sam: Here're the turkeys. How big of a bird did you want to get?
Jenny: Well, we've got about ten people coming to dinner. So the bigger, the better.
Sam: All right, this one;s the biggest. Are we ready to check out?
Jenny: Not so fast, big guy. We haven't even started! I need everything on the list.
Sam: Uh, can I wait in the car?
(Hours later)
Sam: Jenny, this is the fifth store we've been to!
Jenny: I know, but I have to get just the right ingredients. Otherwise, things will taste wrong.
Sam: Do you always make such a big deal out of Thanksgiving?
Jenny: No, in fact, this will be my first turkey dinner. But the idea behind the holiday is a good one.
Sam: You mean about the Indians and the Pilgrims helping one another?
Jenny: Hah! No, not really. But the whole idea of giving thanks, for the things you have, the people who have helped you...
讲解：
1. 对话中，Jenny 和Sam在为感恩节大餐购物。他们来到了商店之后呢，发现人非常的多。 Sam说looks like we made it just in time. It's packed in there. 这里，make it，表示“赶上”，那么we made it just in time，就是“我们来得正是时候”。make it，还可以表示“做成某事，成功”，例如：Come on, you can make it! 来吧，你一定能成功。
2. packed，这里表示“拥挤的”。动词pack是收拾行李的意思，也就是把东西都挤在箱子里，那packed 表示“拥挤的”就很形象。每逢有重大的节日，人们都会买很多过节用的东西，包括食品，服装等等，很多商店都被抢购一空。Jenny说people always buy out the stores before the big holidays. 这里buy out就是把商店的东西买光，抢购一空的意思。big holidays，就是像Thanksgiving， Christmas这样全国性的重大节日。
3. Sam和Jenny想买一只火鸡，也就是turkey，想要多大的火鸡呢？How big of a bird did you want to get? bird，这里指“家禽”，尤指鸡或火鸡，用作食物，例如：Put the bird in the oven. 把鸡放到烤箱里。bird作为俚语还指“人”，尤指奇怪或非凡的人物，比如说，He is a sly old bird. 他是个老滑头。关于bird还有一个成语，就是Kill 2 birds with one stone，一举两得，一箭双雕。
4. Jenny说因为差不多有10个人来吃饭，所以火鸡越大越好，So the bigger, the better. 两个形容词的比较级形式放在一起来用，表示“越…，就越…”，但是不要忘了在比较级形式前加上定冠词the，例如：The more, the better. 越多越好，多多益善。The more you speak, the more mistakes you'll make. 说的越多，错的越多。
5. Sam挑了一只最大的火鸡，问Jenny现在可不可以去结账了。在商店里结账，用check out。Jenny说还差得远呢，东西还没有买全。big guy，这里是指Sam。Sam耐烦了，说Can I wait in the car?我能在车里等吗？看来Jenny也是一个购物狂啊。
6. 是呀，转眼几个小时过去了，他们已经来到了第五家商店，this is the fifth store we've been to! 看来Sam已经累的不行了。但是Jenny坚持说，I have to get just the right ingredients. Otherwise, things will taste wrong. 我一定要买到正确的材料，要不然，做出来的东西味道就不对了。
7. ingredient，（烹调的）配料。taste这个词可以当系动词用，表示“尝起来…味道….”，例如：It tastes good/ bad. 味道很好/不好。还可以跟like连用，表示“尝起来有…的味道”，It tastes like soap.吃起来味道跟肥皂一样。smell这个词也可以这样用，例如：It smells good/bad.好闻。/不好闻。
8. Sam问Do you always make such a big deal out of Thanksgiving? 你总是为感恩节这样大费周张吗？make a big deal out of something，小题大作。big deal在口语中表示“重要的事情”。比如说：It's no big deal. 这没有什么大不了的。
9. Jenny说实际上这是她做的第一顿感恩节大餐，这里的turkey dinner就是指“感恩节大餐”，因为turkey是感恩节菜谱中的主菜。But the idea behind the holiday is a good one. 但是节日背后的概念不错。那这个idea是指什么呢？
10. Jenny解释说the whole idea of giving thanks, for the things you have, the people who have helped you...这个概念就是为你所拥有的东西表示感谢，向那些帮助过你的人表达谢意。
