庆祝感恩节

Thanksgiving Celebrations 

 

    In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter. The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years.

    Many Americans think of Thanksgiving as a wonderful time to celebrate getting out of school for a long weekend, and eating a great dinner. Or, maybe they think it is the start of the Christmas holiday season.

    Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were also held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, tthe Chinese, and the Egyptians.

    The Greeks

    The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess of corn (actually all grains) was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.

    On the first day of the festival married women (possibility connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made - gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter's gratitude would grant them a good harvest.

    The Romans

    The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of corn ,from which the word cereal comes. The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast.

    The Chinese

    The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.

    The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig, harvested fruits and the "moon cakes". It was believed that during the 3 day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.

    The Egyptians

    The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptian's harvest season.

    Canada

    Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Observance of the day began in 1879.

庆祝感恩节

    每逢感恩节这一天，美国举国上下热闹非常。城乡市镇到处举行化装游行、戏剧表演和体育比赛等，学校和商店也都按规定放假体息。孩子们还模仿当年印第安人的模样穿上离奇古怪的服装，画上脸谱或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。当天教堂里的人也格外多，按习俗人们在这里都要做感恩祈祷。美国人从小就习惯独立生活，各奔东西。而在感恩节。他们总是力争从天南海北归来，一家人团团围坐在一起，大嚼美味火鸡，畅谈往事，这怎不使人感到分外亲切、温暖。

    感恩节宴会后，人们有时会做些传统游戏，比如南瓜赛跑是比赛者用一把小勺推着南瓜跑，规则是不能用手碰南瓜，先到终点者获胜。比赛用的勺子越小，游戏就越有意思。

    多少年来，庆祝感恩节的习俗代代相传，无论在岩石嶙峋的西海岸还是在风光旖旎的夏威夷，人们几乎在以同样的方式欢度感恩节，感恩节是不论何种信仰、何种民族的美国人都庆祝的传统节日。

    加拿大感恩节与美国不同日，加拿大感恩节是在十月八日。我们在这里介绍了古代希腊、罗马、中国是怎样庆祝感恩节的，大家可以参考上面的英文部分。