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.

本周四是感恩節(jié)。作家歐·亨利把這一天稱為“純美國式”的節(jié)日。感恩節(jié)不是一個(gè)宗教節(jié)日，但它有宗教方面的含義。一些美國人在感恩節(jié)的前一天或是感恩節(jié)的早上參加宗教儀式，還有的長途跋涉和他們的家人團(tuán)聚。感恩節(jié)的主要慶祝方式是一桌豐盛的家庭晚宴。

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

對(duì)許多美國人來說，感恩節(jié)這一天是所有家庭成員歡聚一堂的難得時(shí)光。這個(gè)節(jié)日是家人團(tuán)聚的時(shí)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.

感恩節(jié)這一周通常是全年中人們出行最為繁忙的時(shí)段之一。許多經(jīng)常坐飛機(jī)走親訪友的美國人這一周將改為短途駕車。一些心理健康專家認(rèn)為，恐怖襲擊令人們感到恐慌。他們說，人們?cè)陔x家較近的地方會(huì)覺得更安全、更快樂。

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.

與其它節(jié)日不同，感恩節(jié)是一個(gè)家庭節(jié)日。許多人說，今年他們特別感謝他們的家人、朋友和生活中一切美好的事物。在感恩節(jié)，人們享受著一整天的烹調(diào)、美味和交談所帶來的快樂。傳統(tǒng)的感恩節(jié)大餐都包括一只火雞，火雞內(nèi)填滿面包和火雞一起做熟。

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.

其他和火雞相搭配的傳統(tǒng)感恩節(jié)食物有：紅薯，越橘和南瓜派。據(jù)說，感恩節(jié)前后，商店出售的食物比一年中的任何時(shí)候都要多。當(dāng)然，許多人在感恩節(jié)吃的食物也比一年中其它的時(shí)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.

近年來，美國人給感恩節(jié)增添了新的慶祝方式。例如，在感恩節(jié)這一天會(huì)舉行由職業(yè)隊(duì)和大學(xué)生參加的橄欖球比賽。其中有些比賽在國家電視臺(tái)播放。

（來源：網(wǎng)易博客，英語點(diǎn)津Julie編輯）