Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States. Whilst perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members and friends.

With this year’s thanksgiving just around the corner, Chinadaily website had a chat with some foreigners as well the natives who share their experiences on the holiday.

Introduction:

Thanksgiving Day is coming! Do you want to know how people in America celebrate this holiday? And what do people in other countries think of this day? Language Tips has invited Ms. Renee Haines from America, Mr. Lee Michael Hannon from England and Mr. Hu Zhicheng from China to talk turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

Interviewees:

Ms. Renee Haines

Renee Haines is from America. She is now a journalist at China Daily.

Mr. Lee Michael Hannon

Lee Michael Hannon is a journalist at the China Daily's website. He is from England.

Mr. Hu Zhicheng

Hu Zhicheng is a Chinese editor at the China Daily's website.

Questions:

Language Tips(LT): Since Thanksgiving Day is a typical American holiday, let’s start from Renee. Could you share something with us about the origins and histories of Thanksgiving?

What activities do you usually have to celebrate the holiday?

LT: Lee, you are from England. Do people celebrate Thanksgiving Day in your country? Are there any differences from the US?

LT: As we know, now Thanksgiving Day is not limited to western countries, it’s becoming more and more global, as in Asia, people take this day as an opportunity to express their appreciation and gratitude to their families, friends or anyone they think worth a “thank you”, especially among young generation. Zhicheng, as the post-80s generation, what do you think of this holiday?

LT: Why do Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving Day? Are there any special reasons for it?

LT: Say something about your most impressive Thanksgiving Day.

LT: Do you have anyone whom you want to thank especially this year? Since you are all away from home, either from your home country or your hometown, what are you going to do to express your feelings to your families farway?

LT: Say something to the person whom you want to thank most.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Video: Lou Yi, Huan CAO Editor: Huan CAO)