TheStoryofAmericanThanksgiving(ContributedbyBingWei,GrannyBetty'sStoryTime )

　　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.

　　x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09x09

　　ThanksgivingDayisanAmericanholidayandnotcelebratedincontinentalEurope.OnthefourthThursdayofeachNovember,familiesandfriendsgathertogetherfortheoccasiontocelebratewithatraditionalturkeydinner,usuallyinthemid-afternoon.Thanksgivingoriginatedasacelebrationoftheyear'sharvestandissimilartotheMid-AutumnFestivalinChina.

　　 TheoriginoftheThanksgivingDayThisAmericantraditionstartedin1621beforetheUnitedStatesofAmericawasestablished.Itwasahugecelebrationforahard-earnedharvestthefirstyearafterarrivingintheNewWorld.

　　OnSeptember6,1620,theMayflowershipsetsailfromPlymouth,Devon,England,takingalltheEnglishPilgrims（清教徒）totheNewWorld.TheEnglishPilgrimsnumberedaboutahundredpeople,andleftEnglandtoescapereligiouspersecution.TheirvoyagetotheNewWorldwasfinancedbyMerchantAdventurers,anEnglishinvestorgroup.

　　ThePilgrimssailedsixty-sixdays,arrivedintheNewWorldinNovemberofthesameyear.TheyfirstsettledinacornfieldabandonedbyNativeIndiansandnameditPlymouthPlantation.

　　TheyworkedonthelandwithmuchdifficultyandwerebesetbyadevastatingplagueinwhichhalfofthePilgrimdiedinthelongwinterof1620.Inthespringof1621,anIndianbravenamedSquantoandherWampanoag（瓦帕浓人,北美印第安人阿尔琴族一部落）tribecametotheirhelp.ThetribetaughtthePilgrimshowtoworktheearthandplantcorn,beans,pumpkins,squashandothercrops.

　　  TheThanksgivingfeastin1621InlateSeptember1621,thePilgrimswerepleasedwiththeirgreatharvest.Tocelebratetheirfirstharvest,thePilgrimswantedtothankGodandtheNativeIndian.TheyinvitedSquantoandtheentireWampanoagtribethatcelebratetogetherinasharedfeast.ItwassaidaboutninetyWampanoagturnedup,muchtothesurpriseofthePilgrims,whosepopulationhadshrunktonomorethan50.Thechiefofthetribehadhismenhuntfivedeertobringtothefeast.ThefirstThanksgivingdinnerhadanelaboratemenuwithvenison,wildturkey,goose,duck,crane,swan,andotherwaterfowl;theyalsohaslocalseafood:clams,lobsters,mussels,salmon,cod,bass,herring,shad,bluefish,lotsofeelandoysters.Theyalsocookedplentyofvegetables,amongthemsquash,pumpkinsandbeanswerethemostpopular.Theyateraspberries,strawberries,grapes,plums,cherries,blueberries,walnuts,chestnuts,acorns,hickoryandgroundnuts,wheatflour,Indiancornandcornmealandtheymadebeeroutofbarley.Thepumpkinpuddingwaslaterdevelopedintothetraditionalpumpkinpie.ThefirstThanksgivingdinnerissaidtohavelastedfromthreedaystooneweekwithmuchfood,beerandliquor.ThePilgrimsandtheNativeIndiansattogetherontheground,sharedfoodwithfingersorusedroughplatesmadeofwoodorstalebread.Theyranraces,playedoldEnglishgamesandstagedparadesduringthefestive,withmarches,drumsandfiringoftheirmuskets.

　　  "Thanksgiving"relatedtotheBibleThephrase"thanksgiving"initiallycomesfromtheBible.ThePi