在美国，每年11月的最后一个周四称为‘感恩节’，在那天，美国人为每年得到的上天赐福表示感激。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。
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。
感恩节反映了哪些美国文化？它让人们记住这段历史，从欧洲来的移民祈祷宗教自由，和建立新的国家。感恩节一般是家庭的节日，人们总是以节日大餐和家庭成员聚会来庆祝这个节日。
在感恩节餐桌上我们能见到什么？火鸡，马铃薯，番瓜馅饼，玉米等。其中最妙和最吸引人的大菜是烤火鸡和番瓜馅饼。
感恩节宴会后，有些家庭还常常做些传统游戏，跳舞、比赛等。其中有些一直流传至今。
蔓越桔竞赛：是把一个装有蔓越桔的大碗放在地上，4至10名竞赛者围坐在周围，每人发给针线一份。比赛开始，他们先穿针线，然后把蔓越桔一个个串起来。3分钟一到，谁串得最长，谁就得奖。至于穿得最慢的人，大家还开玩笑地发给他一个最差奖。
玉米游戏：据说这是为了纪念当年在粮食匮乏的情况下发给每个移民五个玉米而流传下来的。游戏时，人们把五个玉米藏在屋里，由大家分头去找，找到玉米的五个人参加比赛，其他人在一旁观看。比赛开始，五个人就迅速把玉米粒剥在一个碗里，谁先剥完谁得奖。然后由没有参加比赛的人围在碗旁边猜里面有多少颗玉米粒，猜的数量最接近的奖给爆玉米花。
南瓜赛跑：比赛者用一把小勺推着南瓜跑，规则是绝对不能用手碰南瓜，先到终点者获奖。比赛用的勺子越小，游戏就越有意思，常常惹得大家捧腹大笑。 
除去这些活动外，有些家庭在节日里驱车到乡间去郊游，或是坐飞机出去旅行，特别是当年移民们安家落户的地方——普利茅斯港更是游客们向往的所在。在那里，可以看到按照“五月花号”仿制的船和普利茅斯石，还可以花几个小时在移民村里参观。移民村是仿照当年的样子建成的。参观时，还有专门人员扮成清教徒同游客们谈天，给人以身临其境的感觉。
In the United States, the fourth Thursday in November is called Thanksgiving Day. On that day, Americans give thanks for the blessings they have enjoyed during the year. Thanksgiving Day is the mosttruly American of the national Holidays in the United States and is most closelyconnected with the earliest history of the country.
In 1620, the settlers, or Pilgrims, theysailed 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, overhalf of the settlers died of 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 colonydepended 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.
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.
Does Thanksgiving reflect any part of theAmerican culture? It reminds us of the history that the pilgrims left Europefor religious freedom and established their new country.
Thanksgiving Day is usually a family day.People always celebrate with big dinners and happy reunions.
What will we see on almost every Thanksgiving dinner table？Turkey，Mashed potatoes ，Pumpkin pie ，corns. The best and most attractive among them are roast turkey and pumpkin pie.
