首先熟悉一些鸡类的单词，在英语中被广为人知的turkey(火鸡)，我们为什么在感恩节吃火鸡?因为十月里的火鸡，膘肥体壮，“正是火鸡欲上时”。自然成为了人们的首选目标。
火鸡曾被哥伦布误认为是珍珠鸡。事实上，早在中世纪就有“印度鸡”这种叫法。但是“印度”在这里指的是阿比西亚，珍珠鸡在那里是野禽。
当哥伦布在墨西哥上岸，并相信自己到达的是印度时，他眼中的火鸡就无辜被叫成了“印度鸡”。所以后来“印度鸡”就成了火鸡的第一个正式说法。到了16世纪上半叶，火鸡才被欧洲人摆上餐桌。
火鸡的象征意义
拿火鸡做为感恩节的象征是再贴切不过了。因为火鸡在北美印第安人眼中象征着男子汉的力量与女人的繁殖能力。
Of all the symbols of thanksgiving, the turkey is most familiar and widespread. It is considered as the most famous exemplary might be due to its sharp features, bright hues and majestic appearance. Turkey is a common breed and a native of northern Mexico and the eastern United States. Now it is being raised in large numbers and some of the commonplace species that are popular are Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, and Bourbon Red. Though there is no evidence that Turkey was available to the pilgrims, Massachusetts from where the practice originated, has a legend that it was served in the first Thanksgiving Dinner.
In a book written by the Pilgrim's Governor Bradford, he mentions of wild turkeys while another Pilgrim describes in a letter sent to England how the governor sent 'four men out fowling' who returned with turkeys, ducks and geese for the feast. Though no accurate reports were found, a tale goes where turkey was their original choice but they could not find it. They cooked crow instead and served the local Indians. As a part of tradition, turkey remains of central importance in the Thanksgiving menu surrounded by several other delicious dishes. During the dinners, the family members may also utter a few lines of thanks or chant a special prayer.
感恩节的由来
Thanksgiving Day
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 worship.After 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[1] starvation or epidemics.Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.
All 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 of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed[2]. Years later，President of the United States proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day every year. The celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been observed on that date until today.
The pattern of the Thanksgiving celebration has never changed through the years. The big family dinner is planned months ahead. On the dinner table， people will find apples，oranges，chestnuts，walnuts and grapes. There will be plum pudding， mince pie， other varieties of food and cranberry juice and squash. The best and most attractive among them are roast turkey and pumpkin pie. They have been the most traditional and favorite food on Thanksgiving Day throughout the years.
Everyone agrees the dinner must be built around roast turkey stuffed with a bread dressing[3] to absorb the tasty juices as it roasts. But as cooking varies with families and with the regions where one lives，it is not easy to get a consensus on[4] the precise kind of stuffing for the royal bird.
Thanksgiving today is，in every sense，a national annual holiday on which Americans of all faiths and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year's bounty and reverently ask for continued[5] blessings.
中文翻译：
感恩节是美国国定假日中最地道、最美国式的节日，而且它和早期美国历史最为密切相关。
1620年，一些朝圣者(或称为清教徒)乘坐"五月花"号船去美国寻求宗教自由。他们在海上颠簸折腾了两个月之后，终于在酷寒的十一月里，在现在的马萨诸塞州的普里茅斯登陆。
在第一个冬天，半数以上的移民都死于饥饿和传染病，活下来的人们在第一个春季开始播种。整个夏天他们都热切地盼望着丰收的到来，他们深知自己的生存以及殖民地的存在与否都将取决于即将到来的收成。后来，庄稼获得了意外的丰收，所以大家决定要选一个日子来感谢上帝的恩典。多年以后，美国总统宣布每年十一月的第四个星期四为感恩节。感恩节庆祝活动便定在这一天，直到如今。
感恩节庆祝模式许多年来从未改变。丰盛的家宴早在几个月之前就开始着手准备。人们在餐桌上可以吃到苹果、桔子、栗子、胡桃和葡萄，还有葡萄干布丁、碎肉馅饼、各种其它食物以及红莓苔汁和鲜果汁，其中最妙和最吸引人的大菜是烤火鸡和番瓜馅饼，这些菜一直是感恩节中最富于传统意义和最受人喜爱的食品。
人人都赞成感恩节大餐必需以烤火鸡为主菜。火鸡在烘烤时要以面包作填料以吸收从中流出来的美味汁液，但烹饪技艺常因家庭和地区的不同而各异，应用什幺填料也就很难求得一致。
今天的感恩节是一个不折不扣的国定假日。在这一天，具有各种信仰和各种背景的美国人，共同为他们一年来所受到的上苍的恩典表示感谢，虔诚地祈求上帝继续赐福。
美国人怎么过感恩节?
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.
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, people enjoy a long day of cooking, eating and talking. The traditional meal almost always includes a turkey with a bread mixture cooked inside.
与其它节日不同，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，火鸡内填满面包和火鸡一起做熟。
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.
其他和火鸡相搭配的传统感恩节食物有：红薯，越橘和南瓜派。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它的时候要多。
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.