一年又一年，节日一个又一个，感恩节却让人永远过不烦，它总是能引起我们的思考。在这一天，我们向那些我们习以为常的小事致以深深的感激。我们尝试着去了解生活中看似秩序井然的表层下面更深层的意义，哪怕这个想法仅仅在饭前短暂的祈祷时一闪而过。

　　【感恩节美食文化】

　　Edward Winslow's account details that "they went out and killed five deer" and mentions that "our governor sent four men on fowling" and that "they four, in one day, killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week." While it is possible that turkeys may have been killed, it is more likely that ducks or geese were the primary targets.

　　根据爱德华·温斯洛的记载，他们那时外出捕杀了五头鹿。“长官共派了四个人去抓鸟。这四个人运气不错，一天就找到了几乎够一周吃的东西。”这些人有可能杀火鸡来庆贺，但鸭子和鹅更可能成为那时候人的首选。

　　In addition, the crops grown by both settler and Native American would have graced that early thanksgiving dinner. Corn, squash, potatoes, yams, even wheat to make bread were, in all probability, shared and enjoyed.

　　此外，在早期的感恩节晚餐中，当时的移民和美洲土著会用各种农作物，比如玉米、南瓜、土豆、山药、甚至小麦等所有可能的材料去制作面包，然后一起享用。

　　Today there is such a large variety of food to choose from that a Thanksgiving Dinner can feature almost any main course. True, the traditional turkey is still the meat of choice, yet goose, duck, ham, even some of the sea's harvests can be used. In place of sweet potatoes, peas, greens, and even more exotic vegetables all make their way to this celebration of Thanksgiving and harvest.

　　如今的感恩节大餐可选的食物可谓五花八门，几乎所有的菜都可以出现在晚餐中。没错，传统的火鸡依旧是肉类的选择，而你还可选用鹅、鸭、火腿以及各种海产品。除了甜土豆之外，豌豆、各种绿色食物甚至国外泊来的蔬菜都成功地登上了感恩节盛宴的饭桌。

　　The key to a Thanksgiving menu is to choose foods that will represent the idea of giving thanks for a good year, a harvesting of good fortune, and the sharing of the bounty of your efforts with friends and family. In today's world, the only limit on preparing a Thanksgiving Dinner is an individual's imagination and creativity.

　　感恩节食谱的择选关键在于：食物要有好的寓意，要能够表达出对好年头、对好运气的感恩之心，以及与朋友、家人共同分享的宽宏之心。现如今，人们准备感恩节大餐什么都不缺，唯一可能碰到的困难就是缺乏想象力和创造力。

　　【GATHERING TOGETHERAND HELPING OUT欢聚与相助】

　　Many Thanksgiving traditions come from that 1621 harvest celebration. Sheavesof wheat or corn are often used as decorations. Roast turkey, cranberry sauce,sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie are commonly served at Thanksgiving dinner. Butas the U.S. population becomes more diverse, so does the Thanksgiving meal.Nowadays, sitting next to the turkey might be a dish of tamales, tabbouleh,couscous or sauerkraut.

　　许多感恩节传统始于1621年的丰收庆典。人们通常用一捆捆的小麦或玉米作节日装饰。烤火鸡、越橘浆、红薯和南瓜攀都是感恩节晚餐常见的食物。随着美国人口的日益多样性，感恩节大餐的内容也更丰富多样。如今，摆在火鸡旁的可能是一盘玉米粉蒸肉(tamales)、塔博勒色拉(tabbouleh)、蒸粗麦粉(couscous)或泡菜(sauerkraut)。

　　Colleges serve a special meal for students remaining on campus duringThanksgiving, and international students are often invited to shareThanksgiving with local families. U.S. troops stationed overseas are served aThanksgiving meal. When Americans at home sit down at the table and givethanks, they often express gratitude for their freedom and the sacrifices madeto preserve it.

　　美国各大学在感恩节时会为在校学生提供一顿特殊的餐饭。通常外国学生还会受邀与当地家庭共渡感恩节。美国驻扎在海外的军人也能享有一顿感恩节大餐。能够在家里欢聚一堂的美国人在表示感恩时，通常会为自己的自由以及为捍卫自由而作出牺牲的人们表达感激之情。

　　Many people prepare Thanksgiving meals and serve them to the needy. Othersdonate to food drives, work at food warehouses or deliver groceries to soupkitchens, churches and other charitable groups.

　　在这一天到来的时候，不少人会参加准备感恩节大餐的工作，向有需要的人供餐。还有些人支持食品捐助活动，到食品仓库干活，或向公益厨房、教堂和其他慈善组织运送食品。

　　Thanksgiving is the busiest travel period of the year because families make aspecial effort to be together. Some favorite pastimes include watchingtelevision coverage of the annual Macy’s Department Store parade in New Yorkand of American football games played around the country. The day afterThanksgiving marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, an importanttime for U.S. retailers.

　　感恩节是一年中旅行最繁忙的时期。许多家庭会想一切办法举家团聚。人们喜爱的一些娱乐活动有，观看电视直播纽约市(New York)每年一度梅西百货商店(Macy’s Department Store)的大游行以及全国各地举行的美式足球比赛。感恩节后第二天意味着圣诞购物季节的开始，这对美国零售商来说是一个重要的促销季节。

　　One whimsical Thanksgiving tradition is the annual “pardoning” of a turkey bythe U.S. president, who spares the bird from the dinner table. The bird goes onto live out its life at a petting zoo.

　　感恩节还有一个有趣的传统。美国总统每年会“赦免”(pardoning)一只火鸡，这只火鸡可在宠物园度过余生，免遭成为盘中餐的命运。