Almost every culture in the world has held celebrations of thanks for a plentiful harvest.The American Thanksgiving holiday began as a feast of thanksgiving in the early days of the American colonies almost four hundred years ago.
In 1620,a boat filled with more than one hundred people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New World.This religious group had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of England and they wanted to separate from it.The Pilgrims settled in what is now the state of Massachusetts.Their first winter in the New World was difficult.They had arrived too late to grow many crops,and without fresh food,half the colony died from disease.The following spring the Iroquois Indians taught them how to grow corn,a new food for the colonists.They showed them other crops to grow in the unfamiliar soil and how to hunt and fish.
In the autumn of 1621,bountiful crops of corn,barley,beans and pumpkins were harvested.The colonists had much to be thankful for,so a feast was planned.They invited the local Indian chief and 90 Indians.The Indians brought deer to roast with the turkeys and other wild game offered by the colonists.The colonists had learned how to cook cranberries and different kinds of corn and squash dishes from the Indians.To this first Thanksgiving,the Indians had even brought popcorn.
In following years,many of the original colonists celebrated the autumn harvest with a feast of thanks.
After the United States became an independent country,Congress recommended one yearly day of thanksgiving for the whole nation to celebrate.George Washington suggested the date November 26 as Thanksgiving Day.Then in 1863,at the end of a long and bloody civil war,Abraham Lincoln asked all Americans to set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November,a different date every year.The President must proclaim that date as the official celebration.
Thanksgiving is a time for tradition and sharing.Even if they live far away,family members gather for a reunion at the house of an older relative.All give thanks together for the good things that they have.
In this spirit of sharing,civic groups and charitable organizations offer a traditional meal to those in need,particularly the homeless.On most tables throughout the United States,foods eaten at the first thanksgiving have become traditional.
幾乎世界上所有的文化體都會為感恩豐收來舉行慶典.美國的感恩節(jié)作為感恩的盛宴,起源于大約四百年前美國殖民地早期.在1620年,一個載滿一百多人的船穿過大西洋來到新大陸.那是這個宗教團體開始質(zhì)疑英國教會的信仰并且想要脫離它.這些清教徒定居在現(xiàn)在的馬薩諸塞州.他們在新大陸的第一年很艱難.他們來得太晚,錯過了種植糧食的時機,而且沒有新鮮的食物,一半的殖民者死于疾病.第二年春天,居住在那里的易洛魁族印第安人交給他們?nèi)绾畏N植玉米,這對這些殖民者來說是一種新的食物.印第安人教給他們怎樣在這個他們不熟悉的土地上種植其他糧食、如何打獵以及捕魚.
在1621年的秋天,玉米、大麥、豆子和南瓜獲得了大豐收.為了表示感激,殖民者打算舉行一個宴會.他們邀請了當?shù)氐挠〉诎睬蹰L和90個印第安人.這些印第安人帶來了鹿肉,來和火雞以及殖民者提供的其他野味一起來烤.殖民者從印第安人那里學會了如何烹調(diào)蔓越橘和其他的谷物,如何做南瓜菜.第一次感恩節(jié),這些印第安人甚至帶來了爆米花.
在接下來的幾年里,許多原殖民者用宴會來慶祝秋天的豐收.在美國成為一個獨立的國家以后,國會建議一個全國性的每年一次的感恩日.喬治華盛頓建議11月26日作為感恩節(jié).1863年,在長期、血腥的內(nèi)戰(zhàn)即將結束之際,亞伯拉罕林肯要求所有的美國人留出11月的最后一個星期四作為感恩節(jié).感恩節(jié)就確定在了11月的第四個星期四,每年的日期都不同.總統(tǒng)必須宣布那天為官方慶?；顒?
感恩節(jié)是傳統(tǒng)、分享的日子.即使他們住的很遠,家庭成員也要在一個年長的親戚家重聚,所有人要一起對他們美好的事情感恩.
關于分享,市民團體和慈善組織給那些需要的人,尤其是無家可歸的人提供傳統(tǒng)的食物.在美國大多數(shù)的餐桌上,第一次感恩節(jié)吃的食物成為了傳統(tǒng)的食物.