一年又一年，節日一個又一個，感恩節卻讓人永遠過不煩，它總是能引起我們的思考。在這一天，我們向那些我們習以為常的小事致以深深的感激。我們嘗試著去了解生活中看似秩序井然的表層下面更深層的意義，哪怕這個想法僅僅在飯前短暫的祈禱時一閃而過。
【感恩節美食文化】
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.
根據愛德華·溫斯洛的記載，他們那時外出捕殺了五頭鹿。“長官共派了四個人去抓鳥。這四個人運氣不錯，一天就找到了幾乎夠一週吃的東西。”這些人有可能殺火雞來慶賀，但鴨子和鵝更可能成為那時候人的首選。
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，在早期的感恩節晚餐中，當時的移民和美洲土著會用各種農作物，比如玉米、南瓜、土豆、山藥、甚至小麥等所有可能的材料去製作麵包，然後一起享用。
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.
如今的感恩節大餐可選的食物可謂五花八門，幾乎所有的菜都可以出現在晚餐中。沒錯，傳統的火雞依舊是肉類的選擇，而你還可選用鵝、鴨、火腿以及各種海產品。除了甜土豆之外，豌豆、各種綠色食物甚至國外泊來的蔬菜都成功地登上了感恩節盛宴的飯桌。
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.
感恩節食譜的擇選關鍵在於：食物要有好的寓意，要能夠表達出對好年頭、對好運氣的感恩之心，以及與朋友、家人共同分享的寬巨集之心。現如今，人們準備感恩節大餐什麼都不缺，唯一可能碰到的困難就是缺乏想象力和創造力。
【GATHERING TOGETHERAND HELPING OUT歡聚與相助】
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 days, sitting next to the turkey might be a dish of tamales, tabbouleh,couscous or sauerkraut.
許多感恩節傳統始於1621年的豐收慶典。人們通常用一捆捆的小麥或玉米作節日裝飾。烤火雞、越橘漿、紅薯和南瓜攀都是感恩節晚餐常見的食物。隨著美國人口的日益多樣性，感恩節大餐的內容也更豐富多樣。如今，擺在火雞旁的.可能是一盤玉米粉蒸肉(tamales)、塔博勒色拉(tabbouleh)、蒸粗麥粉(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.
美國各大學在感恩節時會為在校學生提供一頓特殊的餐飯。通常外國學生還會受邀與當地家庭共渡感恩節。美國駐紮在海外的軍人也能享有一頓感恩節大餐。能夠在家裡歡聚一堂的美國人在表示感恩時，通常會為自己的自由以及為捍衛自由而作出犧牲的人們表達感激之情。
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.
在這一天到來的時候，不少人會參加準備感恩節大餐的工作，向有需要的人供餐。還有些人支援食品捐助活動，到食品倉庫幹活，或向公益廚房、教堂和其他慈善組織運送食品。
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.
感恩節是一年中旅行最繁忙的時期。許多家庭會想一切辦法舉家團聚。人們喜愛的一些娛樂活動有，觀看電視直播紐約市(New York)每年一度梅西百貨商店(Macy’s Department Store)的大遊行以及全國各地舉行的美式足球比賽。感恩節後第二天意味著聖誕購物季節的開始，這對美國零售商來說是一個重要的促銷季節。
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.
感恩節還有一個有趣的傳統。美國總統每年會“赦免”(pardoning)一隻火雞，這隻火雞可在寵物園度過餘生，免遭成為盤中餐的命運。
