感恩就意味著感激，意味著歷數你所有的幸福，意味著留意簡單的快樂，也意味著答謝你接受的一切。感恩讓你學著去過一種生活，這種生活的每件事都是奇蹟，你會始終留意你被給予了多少東西。
【感恩節：美國人喜愛的節日】
Thanksgiving in the United States is a timeto gather with family and friends, share a traditional meal and expressgratitude for the good things in life. It can also be a time of service toothers 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。還有很多人為鄰里社群的其他人提供服務。
Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving traces its originsto harvest festivals. It was customary to express gratitude for a bountifulharvest in the cultures of both the Pilgrims who sailed from England in 1620and the Native Americans they encountered.
人們在每年11月的第四個星期四歡慶感恩節。慶祝傳統的傳統最早來自慶豐收的活動。不論是1620年從英國跨海來美洲的清教徒，還是他們遇見的美洲印第安人，他們對盛大的豐收表示感激都已形成習俗，成為各自文化的一部分。
A three-day harvest celebration held in 1621 in Plymouth Colony (part oftoday’s Massachusetts) is generally considered to be the first AmericanThanksgiving. The Pilgrims had arrived the year before on the ship TheMayflower. They hadn’t brought enough food, and it was too late to plant the colony died during the winter of 1620–1621. In the spring, localWampanoag Indians taught the colonists how to grow corn (maize) and othercrops, and helped them master hunting and fishing. They also showed thecolonists 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)，人們舉行為時三天的豐收慶典活動，一般被視為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。
The colonists had bountiful crops in the fall of 1621. They invited theirWampanoag benefactors to feast on wild turkeys, duck, geese, fish andshellfish, corn, green vegetables and dried fruits. Wampanoag Chief Massasoitand his tribe brought venison.
1621年秋，移民們大獲豐收。他們邀請當地萬帕諾亞格部落的印第安族恩人前來就餐，食物十分豐盛，有野火雞、鴨、鵝、魚蝦貝、玉米、蔬菜和乾果。部落酋長馬薩索伊特(Massasoit)及部落成員則帶著鹿肉前來赴宴。
Harvest festivals became a regular affair in New England. Thanksgiving wasobserved on various dates in the states until 1863, when President AbrahamLincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as the national Thanksgivingholiday. In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a law fixing Thanksgivingon the fourth (not always the last) Thursday in November.
豐收慶典逐漸成為新英格蘭地區的固定節日。1863年前，各州往往在不同日子慶祝感恩節。1863年，林肯(Abraham Lincoln)總統宣佈11月份的`最後一個星期四為全國感恩節。1941年，羅斯福(Franklin Roosevelt)總統簽署法律，將感恩節確定為11月的第四個星期四(因為第四個星期四不一定總是最後一個星期四)。
【感恩節幽默地用英語感恩】
►1. If it wasn’t weird, I would have sent you a picture of myself. Because I look totally grateful.
要不是怕太怪的話，我真想給你發一張我的照片：好讓你看看我充滿感激的臉。
►2. Thank you (not sent from my iPhone).
謝謝(不是發自我的iPhone)。
►3. You score phenomenally high in the kind-o-meter. Seriously, I checked.
你在好人榜上得分高得令人震驚。真的，我看過那個榜了。
►4. Thanks so much for putting up with our direct mail. But even more, thank you for responding.
非常謝謝你能忍受得了我們的推銷郵件。而且難能可貴的是，你還給回覆了，謝謝。
►5. You = awesome. Me = grateful.
你真是牛人。我十分感激。
►6. Move over Gates and Buffett, there’s a new philanthropist in town.
你已經超越蓋茨和巴菲特，成為咱們這兒的大慈善家。
►7. Our clients have started an unofficial fan club. You should start practicing your autograph.
客戶們已經組建了非官方粉絲俱樂部。您老趕快練練簽名吧。
►8. Do you practice being so wonderful? Thank you kindly for your gift.
你是練過嗎?怎麼可以這麼厲害?謝謝你的禮物。
►9. Amazed. Inspired. Grateful. That’s how your generosity makes me feel.
目瞪口呆。醍醐灌頂。感激涕零。這就是你的慷慨帶給我的感受。
►10. a) A peach b) Bee’s knees c) Cat’s pajamas. You’re d) All of the above. Thanks for your bigheartedness.
a) 人見人愛，b)出類拔萃，c)不同凡響，你是d)以上皆是。謝謝你的慷慨解囊。
►11. Is there no limit to your awesomeness? Thank you!
你一定是無所不能的吧?謝謝!
