江西 戴劍國(譯)
美國一年一度的感恩節是家人和朋友團聚的日子。在這一天,親朋好友共進傳統風格的大餐,對生活中的諸多恩惠表示感激。像中國的春節一樣,在這一天,成千上萬的人不管多忙,都要和自己的家人團聚。那么,你知道感恩節的來歷嗎?
In 1620,the pilgrims sailed to America on the May Flower,looking for a place where they could have freedom ofworship.After atempestuoustwo-month sea journey they landed at,in icy November,what is now Plymouth,Massachusetts.
During their first winter,over half of the settlers died of hunger or diseases.Those who survived began sowing in the first spring.All summer long they waited for the harvests eagerly,knowing that their lives and the futureexistenceof the colony depended on the coming harvest.Finally the fields produced a harvest accidentally.And therefore it was decided that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord be fixed.Years later,president of the United Statesproclaimedthe fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day every year.The celebration of Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated on that date until today.
The style 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,walnutsand grapes.There will beplum pudding,meat pie,other kinds of food and juice andsquash.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.
Thanksgiving today is,in every sense,a national annual holiday on which Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year's kindness andreverentlyask for continuedblessings.

worship/'wз???p/n.(對上帝或神的)崇拜;禮拜
tempestuous/tem'pest?u?s/adj.狂暴的;激烈的
existence/?g'z?st?ns/n.存在;實有
proclaim/pr?'kle?m/vt.宣告;宣布
chestnut/'t?esn?t/n.栗子;栗樹
walnut/'w??ln?t/n.胡桃;胡桃樹
plum/pl?m/n.葡萄干;李子;梅子
pudding/'p?d??/n.布??;甜食
squash/skw??/n.南瓜小果;果汁飲料
in every sense在各種意義上
reverently/'rev?r?ntli/adv.恭敬地;虔誠地
blessing/'bles??/n.祝福;上帝的恩寵
1.In 1620,the pilgrims sailed to America on the May Flower,looking for a place where they could have freedom of worship.1620年,一些朝圣者(清教徒)乘坐“五月花”號船去美國尋求宗教自由。
此句中looking for a place...為現在分詞短語作伴隨狀語。where是關系副詞,引導定語從句,表示地點。
【即時嘗試】這就是我出生的地方。
2.After a tempestuous two-month sea journey they landed at,in icy November,what is now Plymouth,Massachusetts.他們在海上顛簸折騰了兩個月之后,終于在酷寒的十一月里,在現在的馬薩諸塞州的普利茅斯登陸。
這是一個復合句,what為連接代詞,引導介詞后的賓語從句。
【即時嘗試】他們不能就下一步做什么達成一致意見。
3.All summer long they waited for the harvests eagerly,knowing that their lives and the future existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest.整個夏天他們都熱切地盼望著豐收的到來,他們深知自己的生存以及殖民地的存在都將取決于即將到來的收成。
此句中knowing that...為現在分詞短語作狀語,表示伴隨動作。
【即時嘗試】他整夜躺在床上睡不著,思考著那個問題。
4.Thanksgiving today is,in every sense,a national annual holiday on which Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds join in to express their thanks for the year's kindness and reverently ask for continued blessings.從各種意義上說,今天的感恩節是一個不折不扣的法定假日,在這一天,具有各種信仰和各種背景的美國人加入其中,共同為他們一年來所受到的上蒼的恩典表示感謝,虔誠地祈求上帝繼續賜福。
此句中on which為“介詞+關系代詞”引導定語從句,修飾先行詞a national annual holiday。
【即時嘗試】那就是他出生的日子。
譯文助讀
1620年,一些朝圣者(清教徒)乘坐“五月花”號船去美國尋求宗教自由。他們在海上顛簸折騰了兩個月之后,終于在酷寒的十一月里,在現在的馬薩諸塞州的普利茅斯登陸。
在第一個冬天,半數以上的移民都死于饑餓和疾病,活下來的人們在第一個春季開始播種。整個夏天他們都熱切地盼望著豐收的到來,他們深知自己的生存以及殖民地的存在都將取決于即將到來的收成。終于,莊稼獲得了意外的豐收,所以大家決定選一個日子來感謝上帝的恩典。多年以后,美國總統宣布每年十一月的第四個星期四為感恩節。感恩節慶祝活動便定在這一天,直到如今。
感恩節慶祝模式許多年來從未改變。豐盛的家宴早在幾個月之前就開始著手準備。人們在餐桌上可以吃到蘋果、橘子、栗子、胡桃和葡萄,還有李子布丁、肉餡餅,各種其他食物以及果汁和飲料,其中最棒和最吸引人的是烤火雞和南瓜餡餅。這些年來,這些菜一直是感恩節中最富于傳統意義和最受人喜愛的食品。
從各種意義上說,今天的感恩節是一個不折不扣的法定假日,在這一天,具有各種信仰和各種背景的美國人加入其中,共同為他們一年來所受到的上蒼的恩典表示感謝,虔誠地祈求上帝繼續賜福。