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。
Thanksgiving Day is the most truly American of the national Holidays in the United States and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country.
回顾历史，可以发现，感恩节和美国，都离不开一艘具有重要历史意义的船——五月花号帆船。
Review the history of Amerrican, we can find that Thanksgiving Day and the United States, are inseparable from an important historical significance of the ship - May Flower.
“五月花（May Flower）”号是英国3桅盖轮船
长约28米， 宽7.95米， 吃水3.35米
排水量180吨，于1615年下水
五月花号（May Flower）并非从英国移民驶往北美的第一艘船只，但却是英国移民驶往北美的一艘最为著名的船只。以载运第一批分离派清教徒移民驶往北美普利茅斯殖民地和在该船上签署了美国历史上第一份重要的政治文献——《五月花号公约》而闻名。
The May Flower was not the first ship sail to North America, but it was one of the most famous. Famous for carrying the first separatists to the Plymouth colony of North America and signing the first important political document in American history, the mayflower compact.
1620年9月6日，五月花号载着包括男、女及儿童在内的102名船员由英国南安普顿出发去往未开发的新大陆。其中35人为清教徒，67人为“陌生人"（非清教徒人员）。这些清教徒们与早已纵横南美的葡萄牙和西班牙海盗不同，这里既没有黄金，他们也不是为了淘金发财而来。他们甘冒风险，希望能摆脱压迫，追求自由平等的生活。
On September 6, 1620, the Mayflower set out from Southampton, England, with a crew of 102 people,including men, women and children to new land. Among then,35 were puritans and 67 were "strangers" (non-puritans). Unlike the Portuguese and Spanish buccaneers who had already crossed South America, the pilgrims had neither gold nor were they there to make a fortune. They are willing to take risks, hoping to get rid of oppression and pursue a free and equal life.
在渡越波涛汹涌大西洋的危险而艰难的66天旅程中，人们每天都在和内心深处的恐惧、疾病以及身体不适作斗争。旅途造成的恐惧和彼岸带来的希望交织在每一位人心中。神奇的是，途中仅有一人死亡，但又有一个婴儿降生，所以当他们到达北美大陆的科德角时，船上还是102人。
During the dangerous and difficult 66-day journey across the turbulent Atlantic ocean, people struggled daily with their deepest fears, illnesses and physical ailments. The fear of the trip and the hope of the new land are intertwined in the hearts of everyone. Miraculously, only one person died on the trip, but another baby was born, so by the time they reached Cape Cod in North America, there were still 102 people on board.
这次航行本来是一次商业行为，可由于气候恶劣，航线偏离，他们到达的不是英国当局管理的弗吉尼亚，而是一个陌生的荒凉之地，这片土地上没有政治和法律，没有国家。更为严酷的是，冬季已经来临，如果登陆后各奔东西，那么，谁也无法在严寒贫瘠的新大陆活过这个冬天。
The voyage had been a commercial one, but due to the bad weather and the deviation of the course, they had arrived not in Virginia, which was administered by the English authorities, but in a strange and desolate place, with no politics or laws, no country. To make matters worse, winter was coming, and if we went our separate ways, no one would survive in the cold, barren new world.
为了平息这班移民者在航行中积累的纠纷，也为了上岸建立新殖民地以及可能的自治作好准备。1620年11月11日，五月花号靠岸于科德角时，这些历经磨难却憧憬自由的人决定共同签署一份书面约定——《五月花号公约》。
In order to settle the disputes accumulated by this group of immigrants during the voyage, and to prepare for the establishment of new colonies and possible self-government on shore. When the May Flower docked at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620, these men, who had endured many hardships but wanted to be free, decided to sign a written agreement —— Mayflower Compact.
除了几个临时雇佣的水手和几个实在病得无力书写的人，船上的41位成年男子都在这份约定上签了名。
With the exception of a few temporary sailors and a few patient, the 41 adult men on board signed the agreement.
1620年签署的《五月花号公约》内容：
以上帝的名义，阿门！为了上帝的荣耀和增强基督信仰的荣誉，我们这些在此签名的人扬帆出海，并即将在这块土地上开拓我们的家园。我们在上帝面前共同立誓签约，自愿结为民众自治团体，为了使上述目的得以顺利进行、维持和发展，亦为将来能随时制定和实施有益于本殖民地总体利益的公正法律、法规、条令、宪章和公职等，我们全体保证遵守与服从。
《五月花号公约》是美国历史上第一份重要政治文献，对美国的法律及制度的制定产生了深远的影响。1991年的《世界年鉴》评价这是“美国的第一套成文法”，这份著名的文件也被人们称为“美国的出生证明。”
Mayflower Compact is the first important political document in the history of the United States, and had an important and far-reaching influence on the formulation of laws and institutions in the United States. World Almanac（1991）called it "the first written law of the United States," The famous document also known as "the birth certificate of the United States."
在1620年和1621年之交的冬天，殖民者们遇到了难以想象的困难。就在他们饥寒交迫之时，印第安人为他们送来了很多必需品，还教他们怎么狩猎、捕鱼和种植。丰收之际，他们举行了盛大的庆典，请来印第安人共享用收获的玉米、南瓜、火鸡等制作成的佳肴，这些食谱也延续到今日成为感恩节大餐的主角。
During the winter between 1620 and 1621, the colonists encountered unimaginable difficulties. While they were hungry and cold, the Indians brought them many necessities and taught them how to hunt, fish and plant. At the time of the harvest, they held a grand celebration, inviting the Indians to share their corn, pumpkin, Turkey and other delicacies. These recipes continue to be the main content of Thanksgiving dinner today.
北美十三州统一时，首任总统乔治华盛顿，把感恩节设定为全国性节日，但每个州都有自己的庆祝时间。直到1863年林肯总统颁布法令，才确定每年11月的第四个星期四为感恩节的固定庆祝日。
When the 13 states of North America were united, the first President, George Washington, made Thanksgiving a national holiday, but each state decided its own time. It was not until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln established the fourth Thursday of November as a regular day of Thanksgiving.
感恩节到了现代
逐渐为世界所接受
现在的感恩节
就是为了让平时没有说出口的感激
有一个名正言顺表达出来的理由
在这一天，对值得自己感恩的一切
勇敢的说一声"谢谢"
Thanksgiving is modern
Gradually accepted by the world
Now Thanksgiving
Is to let the usual unsaid gratitude
There is a legitimate reason for this
On this day, be grateful for what you have to offer
Be brave enough to say "thank you"
在这个温暖的日子
航伽感恩有您
感谢各位朋友们的
一路支持与相伴
On this warm day
Hangjia thanks for having you
Thank you,my friends
For your support
and accompany all the way
