在美國人的心目中，感恩節的重要性僅次於聖誕節。這是一個感恩的日子，人們按習俗前往教堂做感恩祈禱;這是一個團圓的日子，身處天南地北的人們聚到一起分享火雞。
history
traditionally, thanksgiving is a time "to give thanks" for a plentiful harvest, because it is celebrated on the last thursday of november at the end of the harvest season。
however, the history of thanksgiving is not clear, because the harvest season is celebrated in many countries and cultures. americans commonly celebrate the first harvest of the "pilgrims", or the first colonists to settle in north america, in 1621.
many colonists came to the new world for religious freedom, because england did not allow diversity in religion.
native americans and colonists did not always live together peacefully, but they did learn from each other by trading goods and farming methods. so many people celebrate the first successful harvest of the colonists。
thankfulness
traditionally, thanksgiving is a religious holiday, as a time to give thanks to god for the blessings in one's life. people can be thankful for things like their good health, the safety of their families, or having good friends. all of these things are called "blessings", or things that god has given us。
for americans who are not religious, thankfulness is just a feeling of gratitude. it is easy to forget how lucky we are, so thanksgiving is a time to be reminded of the priceless things in our lives. many families talk about what they are thankful for as they are sitting around the dinner table before they start the meal。
family
thanksgiving is usually celebrated by getting together with lots of family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. the meal is held in one family's home, and it is common for guests to bring drinks, snacks and desserts.
because thanksgiving is close to christmas, families can spend one holiday with the mother's family and the other holiday with the father's family. university students can invite boyfriends, girlfriends or friends whose families live too far away to come home with them for the holiday。
food
the first image that comes to mind when people think about thanksgiving is a big, fat turkey. turkeys are indeed enormous; the average thanksgiving turkey is 15 pounds, or 6.8 kilograms. (this means that people have to eat turkey sandwiches for weeks after thanksgiving!)
the meal, often held in the late afternoon, also includes mashed potatoes with gravy, bread rolls, stuffing (which can be cooked inside the turkey)， cranberry sauce, sweet corn, and other seasonal vegetables like sweet potato and green beans.
for dessert, pumpkin pie is most popular, although many families enjoy other kinds of pie as well, such as apple pie, pecan pie or blueberry pie。
activities
after the meal, families relax and spend time together, sometimes watching american football games or thanksgiving day parades on television. thanksgiving is also a time to volunteer or donate your time and money to charities.
as people reflect on the blessings in their lives, they are inspired to help those who may be going through difficult times. many churches and community organizations hold free dinners where people volunteer to buy, cook and serve the food.
people also organize "food drives" where canned and packaged food is donated, collected and given to those in need. also, companies and organizations can hold charity events, where employees, friends and families can pay to attend a dinner or dance and all of the money is donated to a charity。
【感恩節美文】
◆ 珍惜你所擁有的一切
In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970); Philosopher, Mathematician
無論對於什麼事情，我們都應該時常問問自己，那些我們長久以來想當然的東西真的理所應當嗎。
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
Fredrick Koeing
我們幾乎快要忘了，快樂並不在於得到了沒有的`東西，而在於知道自己擁有什麼，並心存感激。
Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies.
Erich Seligmann Fromm (1900-1980); Social Psychologist
誰能說，一個充滿愛的幸福時刻，或者在一個明媚的早晨散步、呼吸新鮮的空氣所獲得的快樂，就不值得用生命中的一切痛苦和努力去換取呢。
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870); Novelist
思考當下的福祉，而非過去的不幸。福祉，每個人都有很多;不幸，每個人都有一點。
◆ 感恩讓生活如此美好
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
Johannes A. Gaertner (1912-1996); Art History Professor, Theologian, Poet
感恩於言是禮貌又令人愉悅的，感恩於行是慷慨又高尚的，而若能懷著一顆感之心去生活，那便是觸到了天堂。
I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss.
Rita Mae Brown (born 1944); Writer
我依然很想念那些我曾經愛過但已不在身邊的人，但是我感謝命裡愛過他們。感恩之心最終戰勝了喪失之痛。
In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy.
Albert Clarke
在日常生活中，我們必須明白，我們不是因為快樂而感恩，而是因為感恩而快樂。
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Melodie Beattie - Motivational Author
感恩，會為你開啟充實生活之門，使我們原本擁有的東西變得更多更充裕。它使抗拒變為接受，紊亂變為有序，困惑變為明晰。它讓簡單的飯菜成為盛宴，一個房間成為家庭，一個陌生人成為朋友。感恩，賦予過去以意義，賦予當下以平靜，賦予未來以憧憬。
◆ 別忘了說一句感謝
The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.
William James (1842-1910); Psychologist, Philosopher, Author
人類本性中最深切的渴求就是被他人讚賞。
When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.
Chinese Proverb
喝水不忘挖井人。
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.
Meister Eckhart [Johannes Eckhart] (1260-1328); Theologian, Mystic
如果你一生中唯一說過的祈禱是“謝謝”，那已經足夠。
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust (1871-1922); Novelist
讓我們對帶給自己快樂的人表示感激，他們就像可愛的園丁，讓我們的靈魂之花盡情綻放。
Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.
Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-1881); Philosopher, Poet, Critic
感謝是感恩的開始，感恩是感謝的昇華。感謝可能止於言語，感恩卻要付諸行動。
