美国民众以盛宴和假日购物表达感恩

Americans are expected to mark the annual Thanksgiving holiday Thursday with family gatherings¹, meals and bargain shopping.

星期四美国人庆祝每年一度的感恩节，与家人团聚，共享美餐，购买折价商品。

The celebration is traditionally held on the fourth Thursday in November and marks the beginning of a holiday season that culminates² in New Year's celebrations in early January.

按照传统，美国人在每年十一月的第四个星期四庆祝感恩节。这一天标志着假日季节的开端。季节的高潮是一月初的新年。

The day after Thanksgiving Day is a day for big sales on clothing, toys, and appliances, as people begin their holiday shopping in earnest.

感恩节的第二天就是大减价日，所谓的“黑色星期五”。服装、玩具和家用电器等商品都折价出售。

So-called "Black Friday" sales begin Thursday on Thanksgiving Day, or even a few days before, and generally end the following Monday, known as Cyber Monday.

人们从这一天开始节日购物。折价出售在感恩节甚至更早几天开始，一直持续到星期一。星期一网络促销开始。

According to the National Retail³ Federation⁴, about 68 million people in the U.S. say they expect to shop over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

据美国全国零售商联合会统计，大约6800万美国人表示要在感恩节这个周末购物。

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama took care of business, both frivolous⁵ and serious. He conducted the traditional "turkey pardon," assuring two specially-selected turkeys in a White House ceremony that they would not be made into Thanksgiving dinner.

星期三，奥巴马总统处理了大小各类公务。在白宫举行的“赦免火鸡”传统仪式上，奥巴马赦免了两只火鸡，一只叫“诚实”，另一只叫“阿贝”，使它们免于成为餐桌上的美味佳肴。

The president also assured the nation that at a time of heightened security, there is no need to worry about terrorist threats as they go about their holiday travels and traditions.

此外，奥巴马让美国民众放心，不必担心恐怖主义威胁，尽可依照传统欢度节日。