【雙語美文】感恩節(jié)美國人喜愛的節(jié)日.doc

【雙語美文】感恩節(jié)：美國人喜愛的節(jié)日2014-11-27英語美文Thanksgiving Day感恩節(jié)由來與習(xí)俗Thanksgiving: A Favorite U.S. Holiday感恩節(jié)：美國人喜愛的節(jié)日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(jié)（Thanksgiving）是家人和朋友團(tuán)聚的日子。在這一天，親朋好友共進(jìn)傳統(tǒng)風(fēng)格的大餐，對(duì)生活中的諸多恩惠表示感激。還有很多人為鄰里社區(qū)的其他人提供服務(wù)。Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving traces its origins to harvest festivals. It was customary to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest in the cultures of both the Pilgrims who sailed from England in 1620 and the Native Americans they encountered.人們在每年11月的第四個(gè)星期四歡慶感恩節(jié)。慶祝傳統(tǒng)的傳統(tǒng)最早來自慶豐收的活動(dòng)。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(duì)盛大的豐收表示感激都已形成習(xí)俗，成為各自文化的一部分。A three-day harvest celebration held in 1621 in Plymouth Colony (part of todays Massachusetts) is generally considered to be the first American Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims had arrived the year before on the ship The Mayflower. They hadnt brought enough food, and it was too late to plant crops. Half the colony died during the winter of 16201621. 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），人們舉行為時(shí)三天的豐收慶典活動(dòng)，一般被視為美洲的第一個(gè)感恩節(jié)。前一年，英國清教徒們乘坐“五月花”號(hào)（The Mayflower）抵達(dá)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(gè)殖民地的一半人口不幸喪生。到了春天，當(dāng)?shù)厝f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，并幫助他們學(xué)會(huì)狩獵和捕魚。他們還教他們?nèi)绾闻胫圃介?、玉米和南瓜。The colonists had bountiful crops in the fall of 1621. They invited their Wampanoag benefactors to feast on wild turkeys, duck, geese, fish and shellfish, corn, green vegetables and dried fruits. Wampanoag Chief Massasoit and his tribe brought venison.1621年秋，移民們大獲豐收。他們邀請當(dāng)?shù)厝f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、蔬菜和干果。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 was observed on various dates in the states until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as the national Thanksgiving holiday. In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a law fixing Thanksgiving on the fourth (not always the last) Thursday in November.豐收慶典逐漸成為新英格蘭地區(qū)的固定節(jié)日。1863年前，各州往往在不同日子慶祝感恩節(jié)。1863年，林肯（Abraham Lincoln）總統(tǒng)宣布11月份的最后一個(gè)星期四為全國感恩節(jié)。1941年，羅斯福（Franklin Roosevelt）總統(tǒng)簽署法律，將感恩節(jié)確定為11月的第四個(gè)星期四（因?yàn)榈谒膫€(gè)星期四不一定總是最后一個(gè)星期四）。GATHERING TOGETHER AND HELPING OUT 歡聚與相助Many Thanksgiving traditions come from that 1621 harvest celebration. Sheaves of wheat or corn are often used as decorations. Roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie are commonly served at Thanksgiving dinner. But as 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.許多感恩節(jié)傳統(tǒng)始于1621年的豐收慶典。人們通常用一捆捆的小麥或玉米作節(jié)日裝飾。烤火雞、越橘漿、紅薯和南瓜攀都是感恩節(jié)晚餐常見的食物。隨著美國人口的日益多樣性，感恩節(jié)大餐的內(nèi)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 during Thanksgiving, and international students are often invited to share Thanksgiving with local families. U.S. troops stationed overseas are served a Thanksgiving meal. When Americans at home sit down at the table and give thanks, they often express gratitude for their freedom and the sacrifices made to preserve it.美國各大學(xué)在感恩節(jié)時(shí)會(huì)為在校學(xué)生提供一頓特殊的餐飯。通常外國學(xué)生還會(huì)受邀與當(dāng)?shù)丶彝ス捕筛卸鞴?jié)。美國駐扎在海外的軍人也能享有一頓感恩節(jié)大餐。能夠在家里歡聚一堂的美國人在表示感恩時(shí)，通常會(huì)為自己的自由以及為捍衛(wèi)自由而作出犧牲的人們表達(dá)感激之情。Many people prepare Thanksgiving meals and serve them to the needy. Others donate to food drives, work at food warehouses or deliver groceries to soup kitchens, churches and other charitable groups.在這一天到來的時(shí)候，不少人會(huì)參加準(zhǔn)備感恩節(jié)大餐的工作，向有需要的人供餐。還有些人支持食品捐助活動(dòng)，到食品倉庫干活，或向公益廚房、教堂和其他慈善組織運(yùn)送食品。Thanksgiving is the busiest travel period of the year because families make a special effort to be together. Some favorite pastimes include watching television coverage of the annual Macys Department Store parade in New York and of American football games played around the country. The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, an important time for U.S. retailers.感恩節(jié)是一年中旅行最繁忙的時(shí)期。許多家庭會(huì)想一切辦法舉家團(tuán)聚。人們喜愛的一些娛樂活動(dòng)有，觀看電視直播紐約市（New York）每年一度梅西百貨商店（Macys Department Store）的大游行以及全國各地舉行的美式足球比賽。感恩節(jié)后第二天意味著圣誕購物季節(jié)的開始，這對(duì)美國零售商來說是一個(gè)重要的促銷季節(jié)。One whimsical Thanksgiving tradition is the annual “pardoning” of a turkey by the U.S. president, who spares the bird from the dinner table. The bird goes on to live out its life at a petting zoo.感恩節(jié)還有一個(gè)有趣的傳統(tǒng)。美國總統(tǒng)每年會(huì)“赦免”（pardoning）一只火雞，這只火雞可在寵物園度過余生，免遭成為盤中餐的命運(yùn)。NATIVE AMERICANS 美洲印第安人The harvest celebration of 1621 was followed by a long period of injustice and conflict between Native Americans and Europeans. Many Native Americans in the United States see Thanksgiving as a “National Day of Mourning.” However, others enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home or in large community gatherings, taking the opportunity to spend a day with family and friends. Each year in southern California, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians donates thousands of turkeys to charities and families in need.1621年舉行豐收慶典活動(dòng)之后，在印第安人和歐洲移民之間出現(xiàn)了較長時(shí)期的不公平和相互沖突的情形。美國許多印第安人視感恩節(jié)為“國殤日”（National Day of Mourning）。但也有其他印第安人在家中享受感恩節(jié)大餐，或參加大型社區(qū)集會(huì)，并利用這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)與家人和朋友共渡佳節(jié)。南加州（southern California）的印第安莫龍戈部落( The Morongo Band of Mission In