感恩節對於美國人來說是非常重要的，因爲這是起源於美國的節日，也是美國的傳統節日。節日裏人呢最常見的活動方式那就是跟家人聚會一起吃大餐了，火雞就是其中最具代表的食物，是感恩節中不可或缺的。下面我們就來看下一感恩節的由來英語介紹。
Thanksgiving in the United States is a time to gather with family and friends, share a traditional meal and express gratitude for the good things in life. It can also be a time of service to others in the community.
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。還有很多人爲鄰里社區的其他人提供服務。
感恩節的由來
A three-day harvest celebration held in 1621 in Plymouth Colony （part of today’s Massachusetts） is generally considered to be the first American Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims had arrived the year before on the ship The Mayflower. They hadn’t brought enough food, and it was too late to plant crops. Half the colony died during the winter of 1620–1621. In the spring, local Wampanoag Indians taught the colonists how to grow corn （maize） and other crops, and helped them master hunting and fishing. They also showed the colonists how to cook cranberries, corn and squash.
1621年在普利茅斯殖民地（Plymouth Colony），即今天的馬薩諸塞州（Massachusetts），人們舉行爲時三天的豐收慶典活動，一般被視爲美洲的第一個感恩節。前一年，英國清教徒們乘坐“五月花”號（The Mayflower）抵達美洲大陸。他們沒有帶足夠的糧食，重新種莊稼又太晚。1620至1621年冬，這個殖民地的一半人口不幸喪生。到了春天，當地萬帕諾亞格部落的印第安人（Wampanoag Indians）向外來移民介紹如何種植玉米和其他莊稼，並幫助他們學會狩獵和捕魚。他們還教他們如何烹製越橘、玉米和南瓜。
感恩節食物
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.
現在，幾乎每家感恩節餐桌上都有南瓜餡餅──感恩節的另一種主食。但在當年的第一次慶典上卻不可能有這種食品。因爲麪粉奇缺，所以麪包、餡餅、糕點等食物都沒有。但他們卻吃了煮南瓜，並用收穫的玉米制成了一種油炸麪包。也沒有牛奶、蘋果酒、土豆和黃油。沒有馴養的奶牛，自然沒有牛奶；而新發現的土豆被很多歐洲人認爲是有毒的。第一次慶典上有魚、草莓、豆瓣菜、龍蝦、乾果、蛤、鹿肉、李子等。
有感恩的日子生活將會變得更加美好，人跟人之間的關係也會變得更加親密，有利於相處。感恩的話語是人與人溝通的橋樑，是美好的象徵。
