美国人怎么过感恩节？

方晓

Thanksgiving Day is on the 4th Thursday in November. The writer O. Henry called it the one day that is purely American. Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday. But it has spiritual meaning. Some Americans attend religious services on the day before Thanksgiving， or on Thanksgiving morning. Others travel long distances to be with their families. They have a large dinner， which is the main part of the celebration.

感恩节是在11月的第四个星期四。作家欧·亨利把这一天称为“纯美国式”的节日。感恩节不是一个宗教节日，但它有宗教方面的含义。一些美国人在感恩节的前一天或是感恩节的早上参加宗教仪式，还有的长途跋涉和他们的家人团聚。感恩节的主要庆祝方式是一桌丰盛的家庭晚宴。

For many Americans， Thanksgiving is the only time when all members of a family gather. The holiday is a time of family reunion.

对许多美国人来说，感恩节这一天是所有家庭成员欢聚一堂的难得时光。这个节日是家人团聚的时刻。

Thanksgiving week is generally one of the busiest travel times of the year. Many Americans who usually visit family and friends by plane are driving shorter distances instead this week. Some mental-health experts say the attacks have frightened people. They say people feel safer and happier close to home.

感恩节这一周通常是全年中人们出行最为繁忙的时段之一。许多经常坐飞机走亲访友的美国人这一周将改为短途驾车。一些心理健康专家认为，恐怖袭击令人们感到恐慌。他们说，人们在离家较近的地方会觉得更安全、更快乐。

More than any other holiday， Thanksgiving is a celebration of family and home. Many people say that this year they are especially thankful for their families and friends and the good things in their lives. On Thanksgiving， people enjoy a long day of cooking， eating and talking. The traditional meal almost always includes a turkey with a bread mixture cooked inside.

与其他节日不同，感恩节是一个家庭节日。许多人说，今年他们特别感谢他们的家人、朋友和生活中一切美好的事物。在感恩节，人们享受着一整天的烹调、美味和交谈所带来的快乐。传统的感恩节大餐都包括一只火鸡，火鸡内填满面包烹饪。

Other traditional Thanksgiving foods served with turkey are sweet potatoes， cranberries and pumpkin pie. Stores are said to sell more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year. And many people eat more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year.

其他和火鸡相搭配的传统感恩节食物有：红薯、酸梅和南瓜派。据说，感恩节前后，商店出售的食物比一年中的任何时候都要多。当然，许多人在感恩节吃的食物也比一年中其他的时候要多。

Over the years， Americans have added new traditions to their Thanksgiving celebration. For example， a number of professional and university football games are played on Thanksgiving Day. Some of the games are broadcast on national television.

近年来，美国人给感恩节增添了新的庆祝方式。例如，在感恩节这一天会举行由职业队和大学生参加的橄榄球比赛。其中有些比赛在国家电视台播放。

（方 晓 摘编）