a beloved american tradition, thanksgiving day offers us the opportunity to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people and our country. this spirit brought together the newly arrived pilgrims and the wampanoag tribe -- who had been living and thriving around plymouth, massachusetts for thousands of years -- in an autumn harvest feast centuries ago. this thanksgiving day, we reflect on the compassion and contributions of native americans, whose skill in agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture continues to add to our nation's heritage. we also pause our normal pursuits on this day and join in a spirit of fellowship and gratitude for the year's bounties and blessings.
thanksgiving day is a time each year, dating back to our founding, when we lay aside the troubles and disagreements of the day and bow our heads in humble recognition of the providence bestowed upon our nation. amidst the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, president george washington declared the first thanksgiving in america, recounting the blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young country. in the dark days of the civil war when the fate of our union was in doubt, president abraham lincoln proclaimed a thanksgiving day, calling for "the almighty hand" to heal and restore our nation.
in confronting the challenges of our day, we must draw strength from the resolve of previous generations who faced their own struggles and take comfort in knowing a brighter day has always dawned on our great land. as we stand at the close of one year and look to the promise of the next, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to god for our many blessings, for one another, and for our nation. this thanksgiving day, we remember that the freedoms and security we enjoy as americans are protected by the brave men and women of the united states armed forces. these patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and they and their families deserve our profound gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
this harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity. let us return the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day.
as americans gather for the time-honored thanksgiving day meal, let us rejoice in the abundance that graces our tables, in the simple gifts that mark our days, in the loved ones who enrich our lives, and in the gifts of a gracious god. let us recall that our forebears met their challenges with hope and an unfailing spirit, and let us resolve to do the same.
now, therefore, i, barack obama, president of the united states of america, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitution and the laws of the united states, do hereby proclaim thursday, november 25, XX, as a national day of thanksgiving. i encourage all the people of the united states to come together -- whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors -- to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.
in witness whereof, i have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of november, in the year of our lord XX, and of the independence of the united states of america the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
barack obama
one of our nation’s oldest and most cherished traditions, thanksgiving day brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives. the observance recalls the celebration of an autumn harvest centuries ago, when the wampanoag tribe joined the pilgrims at plymouth colony to share in the fruits of a bountiful season. the feast honored the wampanoag for generously extending their knowledge of local game and agriculture to the pilgrims, and today we renew our gratitude to all american indians and alaska natives. we take this time to remember the ways that the first americans have enriched our nation’s heritage, from their generosity centuries ago to the everyday contributions they make to all facets of american life. as we come together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate, let us set aside our daily concerns and give thanks for the providence bestowed upon us.
感恩节(thanksgiving day)是美国最悠久、最宝贵的传统之一。这个节日带给我们更浓郁的亲情，令我们反思给予我们丰富多彩的生活的万般恩典。这个传统上溯至几百年前万帕诺亚格部落(wampanoag tribe)和普利茅斯殖民地(plymouth colony)清教徒移民分享秋收果实的欢庆时节。当时的盛宴表达了对万帕诺亚格部落向新移民传授当地狩猎和农作知识的慷慨友情的赞赏;今天，我们继续向所有美洲印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民表示感恩。让我们值此时刻重温美国最早期的人们对我国文化传统的贡献——他们不仅在数百年前慷慨相助，而且每一天都在为 美国生活的各方各面作贡献。在我们与朋友、家人和邻居聚首欢庆的日子里，让我们抛开日常烦恼，为上帝对我们的眷顾而感恩。
though our traditions have evolved, the spirit of grace and humility at the heart of thanksgiving has persisted through every chapter of our story. when president george washington proclaimed our country’s first thanksgiving, he praised a generous and knowing god for shepherding our young republic through its uncertain beginnings. decades later, president abraham lincoln looked to the divine to protect those who had known the worst of civil war, and to restore the nation "to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union."
虽然我们的传统与时俱进，但是作为感恩节核心的恩惠与谦卑精神贯穿于我们历史的各段篇章，始终如一。乔治·华盛顿 (george washington)总统发表了美国第一个感恩日公告，感谢慷慨而全能的上帝护卫我们年轻的共和国度过风雨莫测的初始阶段。几十年后，亚伯拉罕·林肯(abraham lincoln)总统祈求神灵保佑深领内战不幸的人们，让国家重享完全的“和平、和谐、安宁与联邦团结”。
in times of adversity and times of plenty, we have lifted our hearts by giving humble thanks for the blessings we have received and for those who bring meaning to our lives. today, let us offer gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their many sacrifices, and keep in our thoughts the families who save an empty seat at the table for a loved one stationed in harm’s way. and as members of our american family make do with less, let us rededicate ourselves to our friends and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand.
无论时逢逆境还是一帆风顺，我们通过对恩典和赋予我们生命意义的人们谦卑地表示感恩而得到心灵的升华。今天，让我们 向付出各种牺牲的男女军人表示感谢，也让我们心系那些在餐桌边为值守在险境中的亲人留着空位的家庭。面对精简度日的美国大家庭的成员，让我们再次向需要帮助的朋友和国人献出爱心。
as we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to god for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come.
当我们聚会在社区和家中，围坐在餐桌旁、火炉边时，我们向彼此表示感谢，我们向将仁慈与温馨带到我们生活中的上帝表示感谢。让我们驻足凝思鼓舞我们的生活的点滴恩惠，并立志来年报恩。
now, therefore, i, barack obama, president of the united states of america, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitution and the laws of the united states, do hereby proclaim thursday, november 24, XX, as a national day of thanksgiving. i encourage the people of the united states to come together -- whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors -- to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.
为此，我，美利坚合众国总统巴拉克·奥巴马，以美国宪法和法律赋予我的权力，特此宣布XX年11月24日星期四为全国感恩节。我呼吁美国全体人民，不论是在家中、在敬拜场所、在社区中心，还是在任何与亲朋好友及左邻右舍欢聚的地方，共同对我们过去一年所得的一切表 示感谢，向那些用他们的生命丰富了我们的生活的人表示感谢;并与他人分享自己所受之恩。
in witness whereof, i have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of november, in the year of our lord two thousand eleven, and of the independence of the united states of america the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
我谨于公元XX年11月16日，即美利坚合众国独立第236年，亲笔在此签名为证。
on behalf of the obama family – michelle, malia, sasha, bo and me– i want to wish everyone a very happy thanksgiving.
我代表奥巴马全家——米歇尔，玛利亚，莎莎，小狗波，还有我——祝愿大家感恩节快乐!
for us, like so many of you, this is a day full of family and friends; food and football. it’s a day to fight the overwhelming urge to take a nap – at least until after dinner. but most of all, it’s a time to give thanks for each other, and for the incredible bounty we enjoy.
对于我们来说，就像你们大家一样，这一天会在家人和朋友中度过，一起吃感恩节食物，看橄榄球比赛。这一天要忙忙碌碌总想找个时间小憩一会，至少晚饭后会有这种想法。但对大多数人来说，这一天都会彼此感恩，感谢我们所得到的一切。
that’s especially important this year. as a nation, we’ve just emerged from a campaign season that was passionate, noisy, and vital to our democracy. but it also required us to make choices – and sometimes those choices led us to focus on what sets us apart instead of what ties us together; on what candidate we support instead of what country we belong to.
这一天对于今年来说格外重要。作为一个国家，我们刚刚走出充满激情、嘈杂和我们民主制度中最重要的大选季节，但它需要我们作出选择。而有时候这些选择会过于着重在什么使我们不同，而不是联系起来;在支持我们的候选人，而不是我们的国家。
thanksgiving is a chance to put it all in perspective – to remember that, despite our differences, we are, and always will be, americans first and foremost.
感恩节是一个让我们全面思考的好机会，要记住，尽管存在分歧，我们永远要把美国人民的利益放在首位。
today we give thanks for blessings that are all too rare in this world. the ability to spend time with the ones we love; to say what we want; to worship as we please; to know that there are brave men and women defending our freedom around the globe; and to look our children in the eye and tell them that, here in america, no dream is too big if they’re willing to work for it.
今天我们感激所获得的恩赐，在当今世界它们还是那么的稀有珍贵：我们可以与深爱的人一起度过美好的时光，我们可以自由表达我们的思想与崇拜，我们有那些无畏的军人在世界各地捍卫我们的自由，我们可以看着我们的孩子告诉他们，在美国这里，只要你愿意为之努力，没有什么梦想是不能实现的。
we’re also grateful that this country has always been home to americans who see these blessings not simply as gifts to enjoy, but as opportunities to give back. americans who believe we have a responsibility to look out for those less fortunate – to pull each other up and move forward together.
我们感恩，也是因为在这个国家，美国人不会简单地把恩赐当做礼物去享受，还会把它们当做机会去回报。美国人相信我们有责任去关心那些不太幸运的人，彼此拉对方一把，然后一起向前。
right now, as we prepare to gather around our dinner tables, there are families in the northeast who don’t have that luxury. many of them have lost everything to hurricane sandy – homes, possessions, even loved ones. and it will be a long time before life goes back to normal.
此时此刻，当我们准备围坐在餐桌前时，在东北还有许多家庭无法享受这些。他们在飓风桑迪的灾害中失去了一切——家园，财产，甚至深爱的亲人，生活恢复正常还需要很长一段时间。
but in the midst of so much tragedy, there are also glimmers of hope. over the last few weeks, we’ve seen fema personnel, national guard and first responders working around the clock in hard-hit communities. we’ve seen hospital workers using their lunch breaks to distribute supplies. families offering up extra bedrooms. the fire department advertising free hot showers. buses full of volunteers coming from hundreds of miles away. neighbors sharing whatever they have – food, water, electricity – and saying again and again how lucky they are to have a roof over their heads.
但在这些悲剧之中，我们仍会看到希望的曙光。过去几周以来，我们看到了联邦应急管理署的工作人员，国民警卫队的军人，以及第一救援人员们在受灾地区不分昼夜的工作。我们看到了医护人员利用午休时间发放救援物资。众多家庭提供出他们的空余卧室，消防部门提供免费热水淋浴，巴士满载着来自数百英里以外的志愿者来到灾区，大家彼此分享着拥有的一切——食物，水，电——并且一遍遍地说能有屋顶来遮雨是多么的幸运。
it would have been easy for these folks to do nothing – to worry about themselves and leave the rest to someone else. but that’s not who we are. that’s not what we do.
这些人如果作壁上观本是很容易的——只要担心自己的问题，把其他的困难留给别人。但那就不是我们了，那也不是我们会做的。
as americans, we are a bold, generous, big-hearted people. when our brothers and sisters are in need, we roll up our sleeves and get to work – not for the recognition or the reward, but because it’s the right thing to do. because there but for the grace of god go i. and because here in america, we rise or fall together, as one nation and one people.
作为美国人，我们勇敢，慷慨，善良。当我们的兄弟姐妹有需要的时候，我们会挽起袖子就去帮忙，不是为了获得认可或是奖赏，而是因为这是我们认为正确的事情。因为我这么做是为了上帝的恩典。因为在美国，我们同甘苦共患难，作为一个国家，一个民族。
that’s something to be grateful for – today and every day.
总有些事是值得我们感激的——今天以及每一天。
so to all the americans doing your part to make our world a better place – it is my privilege to serve as your president. to all our servicemembers – it is my honor to be your commander in chief. and from our family to yours, happy thanksgiving.
因此，我要对所有各尽其职共同创造我们美好家园的美国人说，我为能够成为你们的总统而感到无比荣幸;我要对所有的部队军人说，我为能够成为你们的总司令而无比自豪。我代表我们全家祝愿你们感恩节快乐!
hi, everybody. on behalf of all the obamas – michelle, malia, sasha, bo, and the newest member of our family, sunny – i want to wish you a happy and healthy thanksgiving.
大家好!我代表我们家所有人——米歇尔、玛利亚、萨莎、波尔以及新添成员桑尼，祝愿大家有一个快乐舒适的感恩节。
we’ll be spending today just like many of you – sitting down with family and friends to eat some good food, tell some stories, watch a little football, and most importantly, count our blessings.
我们今天会和家人朋友一起享用美味的食物、讲故事、看点足球比赛，最重要的是，感恩——就像你们大多数人一样。
and as americans, we have so much to be thankful for.
作为美国人，我们有那么多值得感恩的东西。
we give thanks for the men and women who set sail for this land nearly four centuries ago, risking everything for the chance at a better life – and the people who were already here, our native american brothers and sisters, for their generosity during that first thanksgiving.
我们对近4XX年前航行到这片土地的人们表达感谢，因为他们为了寻求更好的生活，甘冒一切风险。我们还要感激已经在这片土地上的，我们的原住民印第安兄弟姐妹们，感激他们在第一次感恩节上的慷慨大度。
we give thanks for the generations who followed – people of all races and religions, who arrived here from every country on earth and worked to build something better for themselves and for us.
我们对相继而来的世世代代的人们表达感激。来自世界各国的人们——来自不同民族并有着不同宗教信仰，齐心协力为他们自己和我们建筑起更美好的将来。
we give thanks for all our men and women in uniform – and for their families, who are surely missing them very much today. we’re grateful for their sacrifice too.
我们对穿制服为我们服务的人们表达谢意，对今天必定无比想念他们的亲人表达谢意。我们感激他们的牺牲。
we give thanks for the freedoms they defend – the freedom to think what we want and say what we think, to worship according to our own beliefs, to choose our leaders and, yes, criticize them without punishment. people around the world are fighting and even dying for their chance at these freedoms. we stand with them in that struggle, and we give thanks for being free.
我们感恩他们所捍卫的自由——让我们敢想敢说的自由、让我们选择信仰的自由、让我们选择自己的领导人的自由，以及，不受惩罚地批评领导人的自由。世界各国人民都在为有这些自由而奋斗甚至牺牲。我们和他们站在同一战线上，我们为自由而感恩。
and we give thanks to everyone who’s doing their part to make the united states a better, more compassionate nation – who spend their thanksgiving volunteering at a soup kitchen, or joining a service project, or bringing food and cheer to a lonely neighbor. that big-hearted generosity is a central part of our american character. we believe in lending a hand to folks who need it. we believe in pitching in to solve problems even if they aren’t our problems. and that’s not a one-day-a-year belief. it’s part of the fabric of our nation.
而且，我们感恩所有让美国成为更强大并且更富同情心的国家而尽责职守的人们——那些感恩节在救济所参加志愿服务的人，或者参加服务项目的人，或者给孤单的邻居送去食物和鼓励的人。这样的大度慷慨是我们美国人性格中的核心部分。我们愿意给需要的人以援手，我们愿意路见不平拔刀相助。这些不是一年一次的想法，这是我们国家的构成。
and we remember that many americans need that helping hand right now. americans who’ve lost their jobs and can’t get a new one through no fault of their own. americans who’ve been trapped in poverty and just need that helping hand to climb out. citizens whose prayers and hopes move us to act.
我们牢记着许多美国人现在需要帮助。那些失去工作而且没有丝毫过错却找不到新工作的美国人，那些深陷贫困而且急需救援之手的美国人。正是这些公民的祈祷和希望促使我们行动。
we are a people who are greater together than we are on our own. that’s what today is about. that’s what every day should be about. no matter our differences, we’re all part of one american family. we are each other’s keeper. we are one nation, under god. that core tenet of our american experience has guided us from the earliest days of our founding – and it will guide us to a future that’s even brighter than today.
我们是一个团结胜过单独行动的国家。今天如此，每天都如此。不管我们多么不同，我们都是美国大家庭的一份子。我们是彼此的守护者。我们是上帝庇佑的一个国家。我们美国历史实践出的这个核心信条将带领我们走向比今天更辉煌的未来，从建国初期到将来都是如此。
thank you, god bless you, and from my family to yours, happy thanksgiving.
谢谢，上帝保佑你。还有我们全家想对大家表示感恩节快乐。