Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. The month of November comes in autumn, the main season for harvesting crops. Thanksgiving is an autumn harvest festival like those found in many cultures.

每年11月的第四个星期四庆祝感恩节。在秋季，11月是个收获的季节。秋天的感恩节是收获的节日，在很多文化中都会庆祝这样的收获节日。

Today the holiday is a time of family reunions, parades and watching football games on television. And, oh, yes, food! For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving is a day spent cooking, eating and spending time together.

如今，感恩节是家人团聚、参加各种巡游还有观看电视播足球赛事的时刻。当然还是吃饭的时刻。对于成千上百万的美国人来说，感恩节就是一家人在一起烹饪食物、享受美食、共度美好时光的时刻。

The writer O. Henry called Thanksgiving the one holiday that is purely American. It is not a religious holiday. But it does have a spiritual meaning.

作家欧·亨利称感恩节纯正是美国人的一个节日，不是宗教节日，但是有其精神内涵。

Some Americans travel long distances to be with their families. They eat a large dinner, which is the main part of the celebration. For many people, Thanksgiving is the only time when all members of a family gather together. The holiday is a time of family and family reunions.

一些美国人长途奔波回去跟家人团聚。他们会享用一顿丰盛的大餐，而这是庆祝的一部分。对很多人来说，感恩节就是一个家人团聚的时刻。

The government says the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for long-distance travel. This is when people usually return from gatherings.

政府称感恩节后的周末是一年中长途旅行的最繁忙的一天。通常人们团聚后返回各自的家。

Thanksgiving is all about family and food.

感恩节就是关于家人和食物。

But let’s get back to the food.

让我们再来谈谈那食物。

The star of the Thanksgiving meal is the turkey!

感恩节大餐的主要菜肴是火鸡。

This large bird roasts in the oven all morning. The smell of celery, onion and herbs fill the house and makes everyone hungry.

早上在烤箱里烤这只火鸡。芹菜、洋葱还有调料的味道溢满屋子，让每个人饥肠辘辘。

Two traditional side dishes are mashed potatoes and sweet potato casseroles.

两个传统的配菜是土豆泥和甘薯砂锅菜。

And there is another -- stuffing -- a bread-and-vegetable mixture that is literally stuffed into the turkey and then baked.

火鸡里先填充面包和蔬菜的混合搭配，然后烘烤。

While people cook the Thanksgiving meal and talk with family members and friends, others might be watching American football games on television.

然后人们开始烹饪感恩节大餐，与家人、朋友聊天，有的人会在家里看电视里的美国足球赛事。

Two American traditions, Thanksgiving Day parade and football

美国人的两个传统：感恩节游行和足球。

Over the years, Americans have added this tradition to their Thanksgiving celebrations. A number of football games are played on Thanksgiving Day.

随着时间的推移，美国人增加了这项传统到感恩节的庆祝中。感恩节当天有很多场足球赛事。

Another tradition is the television broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

另一个传统是电视播放的梅西感恩节大游行。

The parade takes place every year in New York City. Employees of the Macy's store on Herald Square organized the first parade in 1924. Many of the workers were immigrants and wanted to hold a big parade like the ones in Old World Europe. So they dressed in special costumes and borrowed some animals from the zoo. They also carried small balloons that floated just overhead.

这个游行每年在纽约举办。1924年，海诺德广场的梅西商店首次组织了游行。很多工人是移民过去的，他们希望举行一次大规模的游行，就像在欧洲时候他们做的那样。因此，他们穿上特别的服饰，从动物园借来一些动物。还携带一些小气球在头顶飘动。

And then sometime in the afternoon, the dinner table is set. It is time for what everyone has been waiting for. Dinner is served!

下午的时候，餐桌布置好，然后每个人需要等待一下，大餐开始供应。

Some families have more than one dinner table at Thanksgiving. Children may eat together at their own table. Usually, the people who are invited to dinner belong to the same family. But anyone can bring a friend. In fact, many Americans live far away from family members. So, getting together at Thanksgiving is not always possible. Many people in this situation have a dinner party and invite their friends who are also without family for the holidays.

感恩节当天，一些家庭摆放不止一张餐桌，孩子们在他们的餐桌上吃饭。通常，受邀来参加聚餐的人都是家人。但是可以带朋友参加。实际上，很多美国人跟家人相距较远，在感恩节当天团聚在一起有点困难。因此，有很多人就会开一个派对，邀请一些家人没在身边的朋友参加感恩节聚会。

Serving those less fortunate

为那些不幸的人提供帮助

It is important to remember that the United States is home to many poor and homeless people. They cannot buy a Thanksgiving dinner or spend the holiday with friends and family. All across the country, religious and service organizations provide holiday meals for older adults, the homeless and the poor.

需要记住一点：美国也有很多穷人和无家可归的人。他们无法购买感恩节大餐，没办法与朋友或家人共度节日。所以，在全国，一些宗教组织和服务性的组织为成人、无家可归的人以及穷人提供食物。

Whether you are eating with family and friends or serving meals to the homeless, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. Before the meal begins, it is traditional for everyone to say a few words about what they are most thankful for.

不管你是要与家人和朋友一起用餐还是向无家可归的人提供食物，感恩节就是向他人表示感谢的节日。大餐开始前，有个传统：每个人都会说些他们最想感谢的人、事。

I’m Anna Matteo.

我是安娜·马特奥。

Happy Thanksgiving!

感恩节快乐!

By Jerri Watson

26 November, 2014

Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. The month of November comes in autumn, the main season for harvesting crops. Thanksgiving is an autumn harvest festival like those found in many cultures.

Today the holiday is a time of family reunions, parades and watching football games on television. And, oh, yes, food! For millions of Americans, Thanksgiving is a day spent cooking, eating and spending time together.

The writer O. Henry called Thanksgiving the one holiday that is purely American. It is not a religious holiday. But it does have a spiritual meaning.

Some Americans travel long distances to be with their families. They eat a large dinner, which is the main part of the celebration. For many people, Thanksgiving is the only time when all members of a family gather together. The holiday is a time of family and family reunions.

The government says the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for long-distance travel. This is when people usually return from gatherings.

Thanksgiving is all about family and food

But let's get back to the food.

The star of the Thanksgiving meal is the turkey!

Roasted turkey is the main dish in a traditional American Thanksgiving meal

This large bird roasts in the oven all morning. The smell of celery, onion and herbs fill the house and makes everyone hungry.

Two traditional side dishes are mashed potatoes and sweet potato casseroles.

And there is another -- stuffing -- a bread-and-vegetable mixture that is literally stuffed into the turkey and then baked.

While people cook the Thanksgiving meal and talk with family members and friends, others might be watching American football games on television.

Two American traditions, Thanksgiving Day parade and football

Over the years, Americans have added this tradition to their Thanksgiving celebrations. A number of football games are played on Thanksgiving Day.

Another tradition is the television broadcast of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The parade takes place every year in New York City. Employees of the Macy's store on Herald Square organized the first parade in 1924. Many of the workers were immigrants and wanted to hold a big parade like the ones in Old World Europe. So they dressed in special costumes and borrowed some animals from the zoo. They also carried small balloons that floated just overhead.

And then sometime in the afternoon, the dinner table is set. It is time for what everyone has been waiting for. Dinner is served!

Some families have more than one dinner table at Thanksgiving. Children may eat together at their own table. Usually, the people who are invited to dinner belong to the same family. But anyone can bring a friend. In fact, many Americans live far away from family members. So, getting together at Thanksgiving is not always possible. Many people in this situation have a dinner party and invite their friends who are also without family for the holidays.

Serving those less fortunate

It is important to remember that the United States is home to many poor and homeless people. They cannot buy a Thanksgiving dinner or spend the holiday with friends and family. All across the country, religious and service organizations provide holiday meals for older adults, the homeless and the poor.

Whether you are eating with family and friends or serving meals to the homeless, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. Before the meal begins, it is traditional for everyone to say a few words about what they are most thankful for.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Happy Thanksgiving!

______________________________________________________________

Turkey Fun Facts

According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 253 million turkeys were raised from January 2013 through September 2014.

An estimated 46 million turkeys were raised in the state of Minnesota alone.

You can buy a turkey from the store or directly from a turkey farm.

Buying a turkey directly from a turkey farm costs more because they are raised in pastures and without the use of antibiotics.

The average 16-pound turkey costs about $21.65 in 2014. This is slightly less than it cost in 2013.

A more recent Thanksgiving tradition is the U.S. President pardoning a turkey -- or saving it from being killed.

Jerri Watson wrote this story. George Grow edited it. The production music is titled "The Holly and the Ivy" and is not available for redistribution.