On the day before Thanksgiving, there is a mad scramble at airports and on highways as everyone travels home.
感恩节的头一天,当人们回家时,在机场和公路上有狂欢的攀爬活动。
Then on Thanksgiving Day, it is as if the whole country were shut down.
接着在感恩节这一天,全国就好像停止了运转一样。
All of the shops and restaurants are closed, and the roads are empty.
所有的商店和餐馆都关闭停业,马路上一个人都没有。
Everyone is indoors dining on turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie: the usual Thanksgiving fare.
人人都在家中尽情享用感恩节的传统美食,比如火鸡、填料、肉汁、越橘调味汁、土豆泥以及南瓜饼等。
Usually, the dinner table is filled to overflowing with food - too much food for anyone to eat at one time.
通常,餐桌上都是满得溢出的食物——每个人一次要吃很多食物。
After the meal, members of the family play touch football in the brisk autumn air,
饭后,一家人要么在凉爽的秋风中打触身式橄榄球,
watch a Thanksgiving parade on TV, or just sit around and catch up with each other.
要么看电视中播放的感恩节游行,要么就围坐在一起互叙别情。
Naturally, the food is kept on the table, and so every now and then someone will wander by to get a piece of pie to nibble on.
通常,食物摆放在桌上,这样无论何时,有人走过来拿块饼吃。
Of course, while people usually think of food when they think of Thanksgiving,
当然,人们想到感恩节时通常就会想到食物,
it is really a time to be reunited with loved ones and to tell each other what we are thankful for.
这真是和相亲相爱的人团聚的好时光,相互讲述要感谢的人或事。
Quite often, it is the only occasion of the year when the entire family gets together.
通常,这是一年之中全家人团聚的唯一场合。
Family, community, and togetherness are what the holiday is all about.
家人、大家庭、归属感是这个节日的全部主题。
Do you have any holidays like this in China?
中国也有像这样的节日吗?
Sincerely, Helen
挚上,海伦