The history of Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving
Modern Thanksgiving has its direct origins in American history. In 1609, a group of Puritans fleeing religious persecution in England moved to Holland. They lived in Holland for a number of years until a group of English investors -- the Merchant Adventurers -- financed a trip for more than 100 passengers to the New World.
On Sept. 6, 1620, they set sail on a ship called the Mayflower, leaving from England and arriving in the New World after 65 days. They settled in a town called Plymouth in what is now Massachusetts. The Pilgrims' first winter was so harsh that fewer than 50 of the group survived the season.
On March 16, 1621, an Abnaki Indian (or Native American) named Samoset entered the Plymouth settlement. He welcomed the Pilgrims in English, and the next day returned with another Native American named Squanto, who spoke English well. With Squanto's help, the Pilgrims were able to survive in the New World. He taught them how to get sap out of the maple trees, how to avoid plants that were poisonous and how to plant corn and other crops.
The harvest was very successful, due in large part to help from the Native Americans. The Pilgrims had enough food for the winter and had learned how to survive in the New World. Plymouth Colony's Governor, William Bradford, decided to throw a celebratory feast and invited the colony's Native American neighbors to take part. The Native Americans brought food as well, and the celebration lasted for three days.
Historians believe that this celebration took place sometime in the fall. And although there are very few clues to reconstruct the feast, some scholars believe that food items, like venison and fish, were the main sources of protein, rather than turkey. It's also thought that the food preparation would have been greatly influenced by Native American traditions since the Puritans had been instructed by Native Americans on how to cultivate and cook items.
Many view the first Thanksgiving as an example of the possibility of great respect and cooperation between two different cultures. But others see it as a symbol of the colonists' eventual persecution of the Native Americans. Sadly, the friendly spirit of the first Thanksgiving and the 50-year period of peace that followed is one exception in a long history of bloodshed between Native American tribes and European settlers.
In 1970, some Native Americans began observing a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day to remember the violence and discrimination suffered by their ancestors. The Day of Mourning is observed by gathering at the top of "Coles Hill," which overlooks Plymouth Rock.
1. What is the origin of Thanksgiving?
a. Children thanking their parents
b. Native Americans thanking Pilgrims
c. The USA thanking allied countries
d. Pilgrims thanking Native Americans
2. What year did the Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?
a. 1610
b. 1621
c. 1630
d. 1721
3. When is Thanksgiving in the United States?
a. The second Thursday of November
b. The third Friday of November
c. The fourth Thursday of November
d. The first Thursday of December
4. What do Americans traditionally eat at Thanksgiving?
a. Roast chicken and French fries
b. Stuffed turkey and tomato soup
c. Stuffed turkey and chocolate pie
d. Stuffed turkey and pumpkin pie
5. What big sports event takes place on Thanksgiving day?
a. American football games
b. The US Open
c. The Daytona 500 auto race
6. Who was the first U.S. President to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday?
a. George Washington
b. Abraham Lincoln
c. Franklin D. Roosevelt
7. When do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving?
a. The same day as the USA
b. The second Monday of November
c. The second Monday of October
d. The fourth Thursday of October
8. How many days did the first Thanksgiving celebrations last?
a. Two
b. Three
c. Five
d. Seven
9. In 1941, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution making Thanksgiving Day the fourth Thursday in November rather
than the last. What was the purpose of the change?
a. To avoid potential snowstorms in the north
b. To avoid heavy rains in the south
c. To extend the Christmas shopping season
d. All of the above
10. Today, what is the most important celebration for most Americans?
a. Easter
b. Spring break
c. Thanksgiving
d. Christmas
II. Read the text and answer the questions:
A. Find the English words for: (they are in the order of the text)
1. rude / rigoureux: 6. la récolte:
2. une colonie: 7. des chercheurs :
3. la sève: 8. un carnage :
4. des érables: 9. les colons :
5. des cultures: 10. le deuil:
B. Right or wrong? Justify with a line number.
1. Pilgrims arrived in the New World on the Mayflower after sailing from Europe for 65 days.
2. The first Native American Indian that the pilgrims met did not speak English.
3. Puritans fleeing religious persecution moved to France before 100 of them moved to the New World.
4. The first harvest of the pilgrims was very successful.
5. The pilgrims had a feast to celebrate their good harvest, but they did not invite the Native American
Indians who helped them with their crops.
6. The first celebratory feast of the pilgrims probably took place in the fall.
7. Today, some people view Thanksgiving as a symbol of the pilgrims’ even tual persecution of the Native
American Indians.
8. In 1970, some descendants of the first settlers began observing a Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day
C. Irregular verbs: fill in the table:
The Natives’ view on Thanksgiving
Why These Native Americans Observe A National Day Of Mourning Each Thanksgiving
Why does Moonanum use the word “Thankstaking” instead of “Thanksgiving”?
Thanksgiving | Native Americans | One Word
1. What words are given by the Native people interviewed when asked to associate a word with “Thanksgiving”? Make three groups of words: positive, negative and neutral. What do you notice?
2. What adjectives could you use to describe the people you saw?
关于感恩节的由来英文版介绍100词 感恩节美国人会和家人相聚一堂，吃大餐,参加庆祝游行，或者体育活动。我整理关于感恩节的由来英文版介绍100词，希望能帮助到您。 感恩节的由来英文版介绍100词 In the States, Thanksgiving is usually the fourth Thursday in November. And in many states, the Friday after Thanksgiving Thursday is also a holiday, this is called Black Friday. Many people choose to have a long weekend break, spend time with their family or shop for Christmas presents on Black Friday. Many stores offer special discounts. 感恩节的英语单词 Thanksgiving Day 感恩节 Happy Thanksgiving! 感恩节快乐! Let's give thanks. 让我们说些感谢的话。 traditional holiday feast 传统的节日大餐 magnificent Thanksgiving dinner
丰盛的感恩节大餐 propose a toast 敬酒 roast turkey 烤火鸡 pumpkin pie 南瓜派 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 梅西感恩节大游行 Black Friday 黑色星期五 感恩节的相关表达 感恩节快乐： Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Day! Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada and the United States. 感恩节是美国和加拿大的国定假日。 Each year on the fourth Thursday in November, Americans gather for a day of feast, parade, sports and family. 感恩节美国人会和家人相聚一堂，吃大餐,参加庆祝游行，或者体育活动。
感恩节英文介绍（双语） Thanksgiving Day is the United States and Canada shared Festival, created by the people of the United States, the intention was to thank God given good harvest, thanks to help from the indians. In America, Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November every year, and from that date will be on leave for two days; while the Canadian and American Thanksgiving at different times, the second Monday of October. Everyone agrees the dinner must be roast turkey. A turkey with a bread dressing to absorb the delicious juices flowing during baking, but cooking techniques often because of family and regions vary, what filler application is difficult to get consistent. What are the Thanksgiving Day game? The game, cranberry race: put a bowl with cranberries on the floor, 4-10 player in the sitting around, each sent her a. The beginning of the game, they first sewing clothes, and then to a series cranberry, one to 3 minutes; who was the longest string, who will get the prize. As for the string of the slowest person, we also make fun of to send him a worst award. Game two, game of corn: corn five people hid in the house, we go separately, find corn five to participate in the competition, other people watched. The start of the game, five on the rapid exploitation of maize grain in a bowl, who finished first stripping who the winners, then by no race around the bowl next to guess how many grains of corn, guess the number of the nearest award to a bag of popcorn.
美国感恩节的来历 本文为美国感恩节的来历优秀范文，感恩节的由来要一直追溯到美国历史的发端。让我们通过以下的文章来了解。美国感恩节的来历范文当我们再次计划庆祝“美国人”(指征服美洲的欧洲人后裔)所说的“感恩节”之时，让我们反思一下过去。其实，感恩节的起源不过是个传说，而这个传说并不被印第安人认可，真实的情况是，感恩节是白人入侵美洲后，为庆祝对印第安人的大屠杀取得胜利而设的节日。 在欧洲人入侵美洲129年之后的1621年，据说有了第一个感恩节。传说中，当年，普利茅斯殖民地的英国移民首次庆祝了感恩节。这批来自英格兰的清教徒，1620年乘“五月花”号船来到马萨诸塞州的普利茅斯。他们在当地印第安人的帮助下，学会了种植玉米、狩猎、捕鱼等本领。在第二年欢庆丰收之时，英国移民邀请印第安人一起感谢上帝施恩，因此有了第一个感恩节。传说中，首次庆祝盛宴延续了三天，清教徒们和印第安人一同分享了丰收后的美食。 但那三天盛宴没有留下什么历史记录，存活下来的印第安人不认可这个传说。真实的情况是，由于欧洲人带来的瘟疫，印第安人像苍蝇一样死去，现在康涅狄格州的佩科特部落(印第安人的一个分支)，在欧洲人来到时有8000人，到1637年只剩下1500人，而那年才是白人官方首次宣布庆祝感恩节，白人当时是为了庆祝他们在康涅狄格山谷对佩科特
人的屠杀。 普利茅斯前总督、所谓1621年盛宴记录人之一的威廉·布拉德福参加了1637年大屠杀。他在《普利茅斯种植史》中写道，那些从烈火中逃生的人被刀剑砍杀，有些被剁成碎片，有些被长剑刺穿，他们很快被杀死，很少有人逃掉。他们在火中燃烧的场景很可怕发出难闻的臭味，但那又是甜美胜利的牺牲品。白人赞美上帝为他们帮了大忙，让敌人落入他们手中，让他们迅速取得胜利。马萨诸塞湾总督约翰·温斯罗普宣布：这一天应该成为庆祝日，感谢征服了佩科特人。于是正式宣布的“感恩节”诞生了。当时的佩科特人已所剩无几。英军司令约翰·梅森称，攻击佩科特人是上帝所为，上帝“嘲笑他的敌人及他的子民的敌人，笑看让佩科特人成为灶火上帝判处异教徒的尸体沉入迷斯提克河”。 在被美国人标榜为“高尚”的独立战争期间，纽约州中部也发生过类似屠杀事件。1779年，大陆议会(美国国会前身)发现，多数易洛魁印第安人倒向英国人，反对正在迅速占地的新殖民者。乔治·华盛顿让苏里万将军去处理那些倒向英国人的印第安人，包括莫霍克人、卡尤加人、奥内达加人和塞内卡部落的人。苏里万无情摧毁了至少40个村庄，烧毁他们的庄稼和房屋，令5000多易洛魁印第安人流离失所，许多人在严冬里被冻死。很多逃亡的塞内卡人被剥头皮后杀死。
感恩节英语怎么说 感恩节的英语是：Thanksgiving Day，也可以直接说Thanksgiving，这里的Day不是必须的。 感恩节(Thanksgiving Day)本来是人们感谢上天赐予好收成的日子，现在已经演变成人们相互之间互表感激和洋溢亲情友情的日子。 "Thanks"、"Thank you!"这些表示“谢谢”的话你都会，可是太单调。下面就教你一些"不同凡响"的道谢语，可以派上大用场哦！ 热情洋溢的"谢谢"： I really appreciate it。 我很感谢。 Youre one in a million。 你真是个大好人。 Youre the greatest。 你最棒了。 称赞对方功劳的"谢谢"： Thanks to you (we made it on time。) 都要多谢你(我们才能准时完成)。 I couldnt have done it without you。 若是没有你，我不可能做到。
非常正式的"谢谢"： Im truly grateful for your help。 我非常感激你的帮助。 Your help is greatly appreciated。 非常感激您的帮助。 Id like to express my gratitude。 我要表达我诚挚的谢意。 此外，感恩节的时候人们也常常发短信表示感激之情，下面是一些常用的短信： Warm wishes at Thanksgiving。 在感恩节，衷心地祝福你们。 From all of us to all of you at Thanksgiving。 我们全体祝你们感恩节快乐。 Thanksgiving wishes for you and your family。 给你们全家感恩节的祝福。 I wish you could be here on Thanksgiving。 但愿你能来过感恩节。 Thanksgiving just wont be the same without you。
感恩节的由来英语版 The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect)。 They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists. The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the followin ng fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast —— including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims
竭诚为您提供优质文档/双击可除关于美国感恩节的英文信息 篇一：感恩节的英文介绍 ThanksgivingDayisaharvestfestival.Traditionally,iti satimetogivethanksfortheharvestandexpressgratitudei ngeneral.Itisaholidaycelebratedprimarilyincanadaand theunitedstates.whileperhapsreligiousinorigin,Thank sgivingisnowprimarilyidentifiedasasecularholiday. ThedateandlocationofthefirstThanksgivingcelebration isatopicofmodestcontention.Thoughtheearliestatteste dThanksgivingcelebrationwason september8,1565inwhatisnowsaintAugustine,Florida[1] [2],thetraditional"firstThanksgiving"isveneratedash avingoccurredatthesiteofplymouthplantation,in1621.
Today,Thanksgivingiscelebratedonthesecondmondayofoc toberincanadaandonthefourthThursdayofnovemberintheu nitedstates.Thanksgivingdinnerisheldonthisday,usual lyasagatheringoffamilymembersandfriends. ThanksgivingDayinAmericaisatimetoofferthanks,offami lygatheringsandholidaymeals.Atimeofturkeys,stuffing ,andpumpkinpie.AtimeforIndiancorn,holidayparadesand giantballoons. 在美国，感恩节是一个感谢恩赐，家庭团聚，合家欢宴的日子；是一个家家餐桌上都有火鸡、填料、南瓜馅饼的日子；是一个充满了印第安玉米、假日游行和巨型气球的日子。 Thanksgivingiscelebratedonthe4thThursdayofnovember, whichthisyear(20XX)isnovember24th. 每年十一月的最后一个星期四是感恩节，在今年（20XX）则是11月24日。下面让我们来看看感恩节的由来吧： Thepilgrimswhosailedtothiscountryaboardthemayflower wereoriginallymembersoftheenglishseparatistchurch(a puritansect).Theyhadearlierfledtheirhomeinenglandan dsailedtoholland(Thenetherlands)toescapereligiouspe
英文感恩节的由来 本文为英文感恩节的由来优秀范文，在感恩节那一天，就是单身汉也总是被邀请到别人的家里，同大家一起分享感恩的欢乐，并且感谢上帝的恩惠。这也是感恩节的意义所在。让我们通过以下的文章来了解。 英文感恩节的由来范文Thanksgiving Day 感恩节Thanksgiving Day is the most truly American of the national Holidays in the United States and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country. In 1620，the settlers，or Pilgrims，they sailed to America on the May flower，seeking a place where they could have freedom of a tempestuous two-month voyage they landed at in icy November，what is now Plymouth，Massachusetts. During their first winter，over half of the settlers died of starvation or who survived began sowing in the first summer long they waited for the harvests with great anxiety，knowing that their lives and the future existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest. Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations. And therefore it was decided that a day
感恩节“谢谢”英文怎么说 感恩节（Thanksgiving Day）本来是人们感谢上天赐予好收成的日子，现在已经演变成人们相互之间互表感激和洋溢亲情友情的日子。 "Thanks"、"Thank you!"这些表示“谢谢”的话你都会，可是太单调。下面就教你一些"不同凡响"的道谢语，可以派上大用场哦！ 热情洋溢的"谢谢"： I really appreciate it. 我很感谢。 You're one in a million. 你真是个大好人。 You're the greatest. 你最棒了。 称赞对方功劳的"谢谢"： Thanks to you (we made it on time.) 都要多谢你（我们才能准时完成）。 I couldn't have done it without you. 若是没有你，我不可能做到。 非常正式的"谢谢"： I'm truly grateful for your help. 我非常感激你的帮助。 Your help is greatly appreciated. 非常感激您的帮助。 I'd like to express my gratitude. 我要表达我诚挚的谢意。 此外，感恩节的时候人们也常常发短信表示感激之情，下面是一些常用的短信： Warm wishes at Thanksgiving. 在感恩节，衷心地祝福你们。 From all of us to all of you at Thanksgiving. 我们全体祝你们感恩节快乐。 Thanksgiving wishes for you and your family. 给你们全家感恩节的祝福。 I wish you could be here on Thanksgiving. 但愿你能来过感恩节。 Thanksgiving just won't be the same without you. 没有你，感恩节就不会一样了。 It will be sad not to see you during the holiday when families get together. 家人团聚的节日里，不能看到你，我会感到难过。 Our first Thanksgiving should be our best. 我们第一次共度的感恩节是我们最美好的时光。 I wouldn't want to spend Thanks-giving with anyone else. 我只愿和你共度感恩节。 What a wonderful time to be together. 在一起的时光多么快乐。 Thanksgiving is a time when I tell you that I love you.
Origin of Thanksgiving Day and Thanksgiving Day Tradition 感恩节的起源与传统 Origin of Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is America's preeminent day. It is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. It has a very interesting history. Its origin can be traced back to the 16th century when the first thanksgiving dinner is said to have taken place. Journey of Pilgrims The legendary pilgrims, crossed the Atlantic in the year 1620 in Mayflower-A 17th Century sailing vessel. About 102 people traveled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was so because they were kept in the cargo space of the sailing vessel. No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing Psalms- a sacred song. 朝圣者的旅程 传说中的朝圣者，在1620 年在五月花号A 17 世纪帆船横渡了大西洋。约有102 人走过近两个月有极端困难。这是船只的因为他们被关在航行的货物空间。没有人被允许去在甲板上由于可怕的风暴。朝圣者们通过唱诗篇——神圣的歌曲是在自我安慰。 Arrival in Plymouth The pilgrims reached Plymouth rock on December 11th 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days. Though the original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia, they could not reach the place owing to winds blowing them off course. Nearly46 pilgrims died due to extreme cold in winter. However, in the spring of 1621, Squanto, a native Indian taught the pilgrims to survive by growing food. 在普利茅斯的到来 朝圣者在1620 年12 月11 日，经过66 天的海上旅程到达普利茅斯岩石。虽然原先的目的地是什么地方在弗吉尼亚州北部，他们不可能到达的地方由于海风使他们偏离了航线。Nearly46 朝圣者死于极端寒冷的冬季。然而，在春天1621 年，斯匡托，一位印第安人们教这些清教徒种植食物生存下去。 Day of Fasting and Prayer In the summer of 1621, owing to severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. God answered their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. It saved the corn crops. 天的禁食和祈祷 1621 年，由于严重的干旱，夏季朝圣者呼吁了一天的斋戒和祈祷讨神的喜悦，在即将到来的季节里要求提供了丰硕的成果。上帝回答说他们的祈祷和下雨在年底的一天。它保存的玉米作物。
关于感恩节的英文介绍 【篇一：感恩节英文介绍(双语)】 感恩节英文介绍（双语） thanksgiving day is the united states and canada shared festival, created by the people of the united states, the intention was to thank god given good harvest, thanks to help from the indians. in america, thanksgiving day is the fourth thursday in november every year, and from that date will be on leave for two days; while the canadian and american thanksgiving at different times, the second monday of october. everyone agrees the dinner must be roast turkey. a turkey with a bread dressing to absorb the delicious juices flowing during baking, but cooking techniques often because of family and regions vary, what filler application is difficult to get consistent. what are the thanksgiving day game? the game, cranberry race: put a bowl with cranberries on the floor, 4-10 player in the sitting around, each sent her a. the beginning of the game, they first sewing clothes, and then to a series cranberry, one to 3 minutes; who was the longest string, who will get the prize. as for the string of the slowest person, we also make fun of to send him a worst award. game two, game of corn: corn five people hid in the house, we go separately, find corn five to participate in the competition, other people watched. the start of the game, five on the rapid exploitation of maize grain in a bowl, who finished first stripping who the winners, then by no race around the bowl next to guess how many grains of corn, guess the number of the nearest award to a bag of popcorn. game three, the game with a teaspoon of pumpkin run, the rules can not be touched by hand pumpkin, who won a first destination. the smaller spoon with the competition, the game is more interesting. 【参考译文】 感恩节是美国和加拿大共有的节日，由美国人民独创，原意是为了感谢上天赐予的好收成、感谢印第安人的帮助。在美国，感恩节是
感恩节相关英语的表达大全精选 有句子都有它存在的意义，那么你知道这些节日有哪些知识点呢?下面，小编在这给大家带来感恩节相关英语的表达大全精选，欢迎大家借鉴参考! Thanksgiving Day 感恩节 Happy Thanksgiving Day 感恩节快乐 family reunion 家人团聚 purely American 纯美国式 cherished traditions 宝贵的传统 blessings 恩典 religious services 宗教仪式 Black Friday 黑色星期五 MayFlower 五月花号 Mayflower Compact 《五月花号公约》 Puritan 清教徒 religious persecution 宗教迫害 Wampanoag tribe 万帕诺亚格部落 Plymouth Colony 普利茅斯殖民地 Indian 印第安人 hunt 狩猎 fishing 捕鱼 crop 作物 Turkey 火鸡 Turkey Day (也称)感恩节 venison 鹿肉 wild bird 野鸟 goose 鹅 entree 主菜 sweet potatoes 红薯 cranberries 越橘
pumpkin pie 南瓜派 flavoring 调料 pardon 赦免 A time of family reunion 美国人怎么过感恩节? This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. 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. 本周四是感恩节。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,
The Origin of Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November 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（新大陆）. 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（美国纽约州东北部易洛魁族印第安人）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（大麦）, 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.
The Story of American Thanksgiving (Contributed by Bing Wei, Granny Betty's Story Time ) 每逢11月第四个星期四，美国人迎来了自己最重要的传统节日感恩节。感恩节，原是清教徒为感谢上天赐与的好收成，同时，也表达了新英格兰“移民”对印第安土著居民最初的谢意。如今，这一传统节日更多意味着合家团聚。下文以历史为脉络，探究了感恩节的渊源，并把目光锁定在1621年翔实的感恩“盛宴”上。阅读完文字，别忘点击附带的小测试。 Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday and not celebrated in continental Europe. On the fourth Thursday of each November, families and friends gather together for the occasion to celebrate with a traditional turkey dinner, usually in the mid-afternoon. Thanksgiving originated as a celebration of the year's harvest and is similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. The origin of the Thanksgiving Day This American tradition started in 1621 before the United States of America was established. It was a huge celebration for a hard-earned harvest the first year after arriving in the New World. On September 6, 1620, the Mayflower ship set sail from Plymouth, Devon, England, taking all the English Pilgrims（清教徒）to the New World. The English Pilgrims numbered about a hundred people, and left England to escape religious persecution. Their voyage to the New World was financed by Merchant Adventurers, an English investor group. The Pilgrims sailed sixty-six days, arrived in the New World in November of the same year. They first settled in a cornfield abandoned by Native Indians and named it Plymouth Plantation. They worked on the land with much difficulty and were beset by a devastating plague in which half of the Pilgrim died in the long winter of 1620. In the spring of 1621, an Indian brave named Squanto and her Wampanoag（瓦帕浓人，北美印第安人阿尔琴族一部落）tribe came to their help. The tribe taught the Pilgrims how to work the earth and plant corn, beans, pumpkins, squash and other crops.