VOA常速英语2007年-Thanksgiving Means Traditional Feast, Festiviti

By Ruth Reader
Washington, D.C.
21 November 2007
 

The traditional American holiday, Thanksgiving, originated as a day to celebrate and give thanks for the season's bountiful harvest. And for many Americans, Thanksgiving means eating roasted turkey and mashed¹ potatoes, spending time with family and prepping for the holiday shopping season. VOA's Ruth Reader has more.

President Bush this week kicked off the holiday by pardoning two turkeys from becoming someone's Thanksgiving dinner. President Harry² Truman started the tradition in 1947.

"So now I have a task and that is to grant a full presidential pardon to May and Flower that will shortly be flown off to Disney World, where they will serve as honorary grand marshals for the Thanksgiving Day parade,” said the president to a gathering³ at the White House. “I hope that honor doesn't go to their heads."

The turkeys' names, May and Flower, are a reference to the ship [Mayflower] that sailed nearly 400 years ago from Plymouth, England to America. And in the fall of 1621, these Plymouth pilgrims celebrated⁴ a bountiful harvest with local American Indians. This is considered one of the earliest Thanksgivings. 

Since the 1600s, Thanksgiving has morphed into a holiday in the United States marked by extravagant⁵ parades, feasts and the opening of the Christmas shopping season. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is one of the major festivities to mark Thanksgiving each year. Approximately 2.5 million people are expected to attend the parade this year, while 44 million will watch it on television at home.

The parade serves as a reminder⁶ that the holiday season is in full swing. This Friday, many Americans will rise early the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of discounts at retail⁷ shops around the country. Last year roughly 140 million Americans hit stores and spent an average of $360.

1 mashed   

a.捣烂的

参考例句：

• two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
• Just one scoop of mashed potato for me, please. 请给我盛一勺土豆泥。

2 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

6 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

7 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。