Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons.
Throughout history mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November, which this year (2004) is November 25th.
词汇：
stuffing n.填塞料
parade n.游行, 炫耀, 阅兵, 检阅, 阅兵场v.游行, 炫耀, 夸耀, (使)列队行进
bountiful adj.慷慨的, 宽大的
revenge n.报仇, 复仇vt.替...报仇, 复仇