Module 2 Public holidays
Unit 1 My family always go somewhere interesting as
soon as the holiday begins.
课 题
Module 2 Public holidays
课时
第一课时Unit 1 My family always go somewhere interesting as soon as the holiday begins.
课型
Listening and speaking
教学目标
知识目标
1. 学习并掌握下列词汇:
found, since then, flag, until, off, vacation, season, kid, band, UK, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, twelfth, twentieth, all kinds of, take a vacation, have fun, as soon as
2. 掌握以下句型:
①The First of October is China’s National Day, isn’t it, Lingling?
②The People’s Republic of China was founded on 1st October 1949.
③People have celebrated the National Day since then.
④While we’re staying with our friends, we’re going to spend one day in Qingdao.
能力目标
1. 能够听懂介绍节日的描述并提取相关信息。
2. 能够正确表达日期; 能够谈论中外重要节日习俗及其差异。
情感目标
了解中外的重要节日, 增进对祖国传统文化的热爱。
教学重点
1. 掌握本课时出现的时间状语从句。
2. 能够听懂介绍节日的描述并提取相关信息。
教学难点
1. 掌握本课时出现的时间状语从句。
2. 能够正确表达日期; 能够谈论中外重要节日习俗及其差异。
课前预习
Preview the new words and prepare information about festivals in China and abroad.
教学方法
Situational Approach; Listening and speaking approach;
Communicative approach; Task-based approach
教学过程
教学环节
教师活动
学生活动
备课札记
Step 1
Warming
up and
leading in.
1. Show questions on the screen.
What’s your favourite holiday? How much do you know about it?
2. Introduce National Day and Independence Day by showing some pictures and videos.
1. Discuss the questions and give answers.
2. Enjoy the pictures and videos.
图片、视频导入, 了解节日文化, 培养爱国精神
Step 2
Pre-listening
(New words,
Activities
1&2)
1. Show the new words and expressions and ask the students to read them. Exist the Chinese meaning or English spelling and ask them to read the new words and expressions by memory.
2. Ask them to look at the picture in Activity 1 and answer the questions.
3. Ask the students to listen to the tape in Activity 2 and complete it, check answers one by one.
1. Learn the new words.
2. Look and answer.
3. Listen and complete.
重视基础学习, 培养强化记忆能力。培养口语表达能力, 为听力理解奠定基础
Step 3
While-listening
(Activities
3& 4)
1. Ask the students to go through the table in Activity 3, listen to the tape and fill in the blanks, then check answers.
2. Ask them to listen again, and complete Activity 4 on their own. Then check answers.
3. Play the video in Activity 3. Ask them to pay attention to the pronunciation, read the dialogue freely with the help of the teacher, and then find some key phrases in pairs.
1. Listen carefully and finish Activity 3.
2. Complete the sentences in Activity 4.
3. Watch the video and practise reading the conversation in pairs and find key phrases.
了解中外节假日的日期、庆祝方式和文化习俗, 从对话中提取细节信息。
视频欣赏, 课文朗读。自主探究, 攻克要点难点
Step 4
Post-listening
(Activities
5, 6&7)
1. Play the tape in Activity 5 and ask the students to listen and repeat.
2. Say the dates to finish Activity 6. Tell the students to ask and answer in pairs.
3. Have the students ask and answer questions about a Chinese public holiday in groups.
1. Listen carefully, repeat the rules by themselves. At last, have a dictation about dates.
2. Work in pairs to ask and answer.
3. Work in groups to ask and answer questions.
观察总结英文日期的读法及写法, 检查听力能力; 表达自我观点。
Step 5
Summarize
1. Guide the students to have a small conclusion about Adverbial Clauses.
2. Guide the students to make a list of festivals in China and abroad.
1. Have a small conclusion about Adverbial Clauses.
2. Make a list of festivals in China and abroad.
当堂巩固, 培养学生探究、归纳总结的能力。
Step 6
Consolidation
教师设置巩固检测练习:
Ⅰ. 用所给词的适当形式填空
1. Do you know when the US _______(found)??
2. Lin Feng_______ (live)here for many years since he came to our city. ?
3. Did you often watch them_______ (play) football??
4. I was doing my homework while my mother_______ (do)the cleaning. ?
5. We_______ (leave)for Shanghai as soon as we get tickets. ?
Ⅱ. 根据句意及首字母提示完成句子
1. —Which s_______is your favourite??
—I like spring best.
2. The PLA was f_______ on the first of August, 1927. ?
3. We have a f_______ raising ceremony (仪式) every Monday morning. ?
4. The famous rock b_______gave a concert in Kunming yesterday evening. ?
5. December is the t_______ month of a year. ?
独立完成检测练习, 并进行自评与互评。
通过检测练习, 便于学生了解自己对本节课的词汇、句型、语法等的掌握情况
Step 7
Homework
1. Read the dialogue in groups and change the roles.
2. Find information about Thanksgiving.
3. Additional exercises.
板书设计
Unit 1 My family always go somewhere interesting as soon as the holiday begins.
1. Vocabulary: found, since then, flag, until, off, vacation, season, kid, band, UK, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, twelfth, twentieth, all kinds of, take a vacation, have fun, as soon as
2. Structures:
①The First of October is China’s National Day, isn’t it, Lingling?
②The People’s Republic of China was founded on 1st October 1949.
③People have celebrated the National Day since then.
④While we’re staying with our friends, we’re going to spend one day in Qingdao.
教学反思
本节课的教学活动设计, 巧妙导入。良好的开端, 成功的一半。一节优质课, 不但要求教师潜心备课, 熟悉教材、了解教材, 而且要求教师优化课堂, 增强趣味性, 最大限度吸引学生, 激发其学习兴趣, 吸引学生把注意力放到课堂上来, 启发学生思维, 培养学生学习能力。
资料链接
西方国家的主要节日
1. 新年 按阳历或公历, 新年从1月1日(January 1st)开始。在元旦这一天, 人们辞旧迎新(to see the old year out and the new year in)。
2. 圣诞节 基督教徒纪念耶稣基督(Jesus Christ)诞生的日子, 公认的日期是12月25日。圣诞节本是一个宗教性的节日, 后来逐渐演变成一个具有民族风格的全民性的节日, 在美国、英国、加拿大、德国、意大利、澳大利亚等西方国家, 甚至在非洲、东南亚一些国家都很盛行。
3. 复活节 西方国家隆重而又盛大的宗教节日。复活节一般是在旧历的3月22日至4月25日之间。西方国家的复活节有各种风俗。比如, 有的在复活节那天烧毁犹大的模拟像。他是背叛耶稣的一个门徒。在忏悔日里, 基督教徒要去教堂忏悔以赎罪。复活节星期一(Easter Monday)是复活节庆祝活动的高潮。在英国伦敦的海德公园, 每年的这天都举行大规模的庆祝游行。有些西方国家在这天还要举行传统的“滚鸡蛋”活动。
4. 感恩节 美国民间传统节日。时间是每年11月的第四个星期四(the 4th Thursday in November)。
5. 愚人节(April Fool’s Day/All Fools’ Day) 一个比较特殊的节日。时间是每年的4月1日(April 1st)。按照西方国家的习俗, 在愚人节这一天, 人们可以任意说谎骗人, 愚弄他人。按照他们的习惯, 当一个人成功地使别人受到愚弄时, 他就会笑着解释, 这时受愚弄的人恍然大悟, 也会跟着哈哈大笑。愚人节活动活跃气氛, 放松大脑, 为人们的生活增添一些乐趣, 本不是件坏事。
6. 母亲节(Mother’s Day) 英美等国家为了表达对母亲的敬意而设的一个节日。日期是每年5月的第二个星期日(the 2nd Sunday in May)。母亲节起源于19世纪60年代的美国。 据说当时在美国Philadelphia 有一个小地方, 人们之间彼此关系十分不友好, 经常打架。当时有一位叫 Mrs Jarvis 的女士希望能改变这种状况, 于是她就创立了一个所谓的“母亲友谊节(Mother’s Friendship Day)”。
7. 父亲节(Father’s Day) 每年6月的第三个星期日(the 3rd Sunday in June)。主要在美国和加拿大。父亲节起源于20世纪初的美国。
8. 情人节(Saint Valentine’s Day) 英美等国一个十分重要的节日, 时间是每年的2月14日。比较流行的说法是, 它是为了纪念罗马基督教殉道者St. Valentine而设的。相传他在2 月14日即将被斩首之前, 凭借自己执着的爱恋之情的魔力使双目失明的女儿重见光明。值得注意的是情人节不仅仅是年轻人的节日, 也是一个大众化的节日。情人节这一天, 不仅仅情侣们互赠卡片和礼物, 人们也给自己的父母、老师以及其他受自己尊敬和爱戴的人赠礼物和卡片。特别引人入胜的是情人节之夜的化装舞会。
9. 万圣节前夜(Halloween) 10月31日的夜晚是西方国家的万圣节前夜。万圣节前夜起源于公元前1000年左右的中欧、西欧凯尔特部落。凯尔特人崇拜祭司神(Druid)。在英国, 万圣节前夜可以说是一个鬼节。因为大多数活动都与“鬼”有关。每到万圣节前夜, 人们就围坐在火炉旁, 讲述一些关于鬼的故事, 有时让一些在场的小孩听起来害怕。在美国, 人们制作“杰克灯”或叫“南瓜灯(Jack-o’-lantern)”。万圣节前夜是大孩子们捣蛋和恶作剧的狂欢之夜, 他们向来往的车辆扔鸡蛋、西红柿等。万圣节前夜的街上警察戒备森严, 随时阻止过分的行为, 逮捕触犯刑律的人。
10. 退伍军人节 每年10月份的第四个星期一是退伍军人节。这是美国的全国性节日, 以向历次战争的退伍军人表示敬意。
11. 美国独立日 7月4日独立日是美国主要的法定节日之一。
Unit 2 We have celebrated the festival since the first
pioneers arrived in America.
课 题
Module 2 Public holidays
课时
第二课时Unit 2 We have celebrated the festival since the first pioneers arrived in America.
课型
Reading and writing
教学目标
知识目标
1. 学习并掌握下列词汇:
among, speech, pioneer, grow, corn, following, lay, over, dish, ourselves, lay the table
2. 掌握以下句型:
①It is a time for a special dinner among family and friends.
②While they were crossing the Atlantic, many people died, and after they landed, their first winter was worse than any English winter.
③The local people, the Native Americans, taught the pioneers how to grow corn.
④Football is also important at Thanksgiving, with many teams playing games.
能力目标
1. 能够读懂介绍节日的文章, 并准确理解文章每个段落的主旨。
2. 能够运用所学知识介绍一个中国的重要节日。
情感目标
加深对中外节日文化的了解, 知道这些节日的来历和庆祝方式, 理解其背后的文化内涵, 培养孩子的感恩意识。
教学重点
1. 能够读懂介绍节日的文章, 并准确理解文章每个段落的主旨。
2. 能够运用所学知识介绍一个中国的重要节日。
教学难点
能够运用所学知识介绍一个中国的重要节日
课前预习
Preview new words and search for information about Thanksgiving Day.
教学方法
Cooperative learning method; Task-based approach; Bottom-up approach;
Content-based instruction teaching; Function method
教学过程
教学环节
教师活动
学生活动
备课札记
Step 1
Warming
up and
leading in.
Play a piece of video: the origin of Thanksgiving.
Enjoy the video and Learn about Thanksgiving.
激发兴趣, 导入话题。
Step 2
Pre-reading
(Act. 1)
Give more details by showing some pictures.
Look at the pictures and have a discussion.
激活学生的背景知识, 增加对感恩节的认识。
Step 3
While-reading
(Act. 2,
3 & 4)
1. Fast-reading: Ask the students to read the passage quickly and match the headings with the paragraphs.
2. Careful-reading: Ask them to listen to the tape and read the passage carefully, complete the table. Check answers in class.
3. Ask the students to read the passage for a third time, and find some keys in it.
4. Play the video, then ask them to read the passage freely with the help of the teacher. Read it loud in class together, at last, ask them to read each passage in groups.
5. Ask them to finish Activity 4 and check answers in class.
1. Read the passage quickly and match the headings with the paragraphs.
2. Read the passage carefully, complete the table. Check answers in pairs
3. Read the passage for a third time, and find some keys in it
4. Watch the video and read the passage in groups.
5. Finish Activity 4
培养学生归纳段落主旨的能力; 注重发音和思维记忆能力的培养; 培养自主探究能力。视频欣赏, 培养语感和朗读能力。
Step 4
Post-reading
(Act 5&6)
1. Ask the students to think about an unforgettable festival and answer the questions in Activity 5.
2. Ask the students to write something about the festival using the answers in Activity 5
3. A song: Thankful Heart
1. Work in groups to talk about an unforgettable festival and answer the questions.
2. Write sentences about the festival.
3. Enjoy the song.
开拓学生的思维; 让学生在实践中巩固所学知识; 培养孩子的感恩意识
Step 5
Summarize
1. Guide the students to retell the passage.
2. Guide the students to summarize the vocabularies and structures in this unit.
1. Retell the passage.
2. Summarize the vocabularies and structures in this unit.
当堂巩固, 锻炼学生的口头表达能力; 培养归纳总结能力。
Step 6
Consolidation
教师设置巩固检测练习:
Ⅰ. 根据句意及汉语提示完成单词
1. The_______(盘; 碟) is not deep enough to serve soup. ?
2. Class is_______(结束). Let’s play games on the playground. ?
3. Peng Liyuan was invited to attend a meeting held by WHO and made a _______(演讲) in English. ?
4. My grandparents always _______(种植) a few red onions in the vegetable field. ?
5. In the history class, we know that Henry Ford was a_______(先驱)in the car industry(工业). ?
Ⅱ. 完成句子
1. 我喜欢听老人讲故事。
I like to listen to the old _______ _______. ?
2. 我们去超市买了一些礼物。
We went to the supermarket to _______ _______some presents. ?
3. 昨天你给我打电话时, 我正在摆放餐桌。
When you called me yesterday, I was _______ _______. ?
4. 你们也吃了太多甜玉米吗?
Have you eaten too much sweet corn _______ _______??
5. 我希望我们今晚在一起玩得开心。
I hope we can_______ _______together tonight. ?
独立完成检测练习, 并进行自评与互评。
通过检测练习, 便于学生了解自己对本节课的词汇、句型、语法等的掌握情况
Step 7
Homework
1. Read the passage carefully.
2. Write an unforgettable festival you have enjoyed.
3. Exercises about adverbial Clauses.
板书设计
Unit 2 We have celebrated the festival since the first pioneers arrived in America.
1. Vocabulary:
among, speech, pioneer, grow, corn, following, lay, over, dish, ourselves, lay the table
2. Structures:
①It is a time for a special dinner among family and friends.
②While they were crossing the Atlantic, many people died, and after they landed, their first winter was colder than any English winter.
③The local people, the Native Americans, taught the pioneers how to grow corn.
④Football is also important at Thanksgiving, with many teams playing football.
教学反思
本课堂教学的设计主要依据教材和学生的年龄特点, 依据新课程标准的精神, 从激发学生的学习兴趣、培养良好的学习习惯、丰富生活经验和提高认知水平出发, 科学安排教学内容, 合理设计教学任务, 开展形式多样的教学活动, 让学生亲身体验, 大胆实践, 积极参与, 共同合作与交流, 帮助学生在任务性的教学途径下发展综合语言运用能力, 使语言学习的过程成为学生形成积极的情感态度、主动思维和大胆实践、提高跨文化意识和形成自主学习能力的过程。
资料链接
感恩节的由来
在美国, 感恩节是一个感谢恩赐、家庭团聚、合家欢宴的日子; 是一个家家餐桌上都有火鸡、填料、南瓜馅饼的日子; 是一个充满了印第安玉米、假日游行和巨型气球的日子。每年11月的第四个星期四是感恩节。下面让我们来看看感恩节的由来吧。
乘“五月花”来到这个国度的旅行者(朝圣者)原本是英国分离派地下教会清教徒, 他们的家在英国, 因不堪忍受国内的宗教迫害, 他们逃亡到了荷兰。在荷兰, 他们享受了更多的宗教信仰自由, 但最终却意识到在荷兰的这种生活方式是对他们的主的亵渎。为了寻求更好的生活, 他们与伦敦贸易公司协商, 由该公司资助他们到美国。在这趟旅途中, 船上只有大约1/3的乘客是清教徒, 其他大多数人并非分离派清教徒, 而是公司雇来保护其利益的人员(契约奴)。
1620年12月11日, 旅行者们在“普利茅斯石”登陆。他们的第一个冬季是灾难性的, 第二年秋天来临时, 原来的102名乘客只剩下约56人。但1621年他们获得了大丰收, 这些幸存的殖民者们决定和帮助他们渡过难关的91名印第安人一起庆祝。他们认为若没有当地居民的帮助, 他们是不可能度过这一年的。这次节日的盛宴不仅仅是一个“感恩”仪式, 它更像英国传统的丰收庆典。庆典持续了三天。
紧接着的第二年(1622年)却没有举行“感恩”庆典。到了1623年, 发生了一场严重的旱灾, 朝圣者们聚集到一起, 举行了虔诚的祈雨仪式, 刚好在第二天, 一场充沛的大雨从天而降。威廉·布雷德福总督宣布再次庆祝感恩节, 并再次邀请了他们的印第安朋友。之后数年无感恩节, 直到1676年6月, 感恩节才再次被提出。
1676年6月20日, 马萨诸塞州的查尔斯顿政府委员会召开了一次会议, 讨论如何才能最好地表达对主的谢意: 主赐予他们好运, 庇佑他们安全地建立了他们的联邦。经过意见不统一的投票, 由书记爱德华·劳森宣布6月29日为当年的感恩节。值得注意的是, 因此次庆典在一定程度上是殖民者对战胜“野蛮的土著人”的庆祝, 故印第安人极有可能未参加此次庆典。
1777年10月, 13个殖民地第一次联合举办了感恩节庆典, 这也是对萨拉托加一役中战胜英国人所取得的爱国主义的胜利的纪念。但只举行了这一年。
1789年, 尽管出现反对的呼声, 华盛顿总统还是宣布感恩节为全国性节日。在殖民地中也存在意见的分歧, 不少人认为, 仅仅一小撮朝圣者所经历的那些艰难困苦并不值得用一个全国性的节日来纪念。
若没有萨拉·J· 黑尔——一位杂志编辑的努力, 最终就不会有现在所谓的感恩节。在她主编的《波士顿妇女杂志》及稍后的《Godey’s 女士手册》中, 她撰写了大量的社论, 支持将感恩节定为全国性节日。40年中, 她坚持不懈地发表评论, 不断致信州长乃至总统, 最后, 理想终于变为现实: 1863年, 林肯总统发表声明, 将11月的第四个星期四定为感恩节——一个全国性的节日。
Unit 3 Language in use
课 题
Module 2 Public holidays
课时
第三课时Unit 3 Language in use
课型
Revision and application
教学目标
知识目标
1. Review the key words, phrases, and sentences of M2.
2. Use adverbial clauses with while, before, when, as soon as, since, after.
能力目标
1. 能够听懂介绍节日的描述。2. 能够谈论中外重要节日习俗及其差异。
3. 能够读懂介绍节日的文章。
4. 能够从时间、事件、人物、特色饮食等方面写一篇短文介绍节日。
情感目标
拓展学生的文化视野, 了解节假日的文化背景, 发展跨文化意识, 提高学生对英美国家文化的认识
教学重点
1. Summarize and consolidate the use of adverbial clauses with while, before, when, as soon as, since, after and the new vocabulary.
2. To practise the new vocabulary and expressions.
教学难点
Summarize and consolidate the use of adverbial clauses with while, before, when, as soon as, since, after.
课前预习
Preview the six basic tenses.
教学方法
Formal and interactive approach; Top-down approach;
PWP method; Task-based approach
教学过程
教学环节
教师活动
学生活动
备课札记
Step 1
Warming
up and
leading in.
1. Ask the students to repeat the words in this module after the tape quickly.
2. Sum up the use of Adverbial Clauses of Time.
1. Repeat the words in this module after the tape quickly.
2. Sum up the use of Adverbial Clauses of Time.
基础巩固
链接中考
Step 2
Language
Practice
Go through the sentences and ask them to observe the tenses.
Read and say.
仔细辨别, 发散思维。
Step 3
Explanation.
(Activities
1～6)
1. Ask them to complete the sentences in Activity 1, show the answers.
2. Ask the students to complete the conversation in Activity 2 and check answers by asking them to read it in pairs.
3. Ask them to ask and answer questions about themselves in pairs to finish Activity 3, check answers by asking some of them to read their answers completely.
4. Ask the students to complete the passages and the conversations in Activities 4～6 and check answers.
1. Observation.
2. Complete the sentences.
3. Talk about the questions.
4. Complete the passages and the conversations.
时间状语的运用并结合不同时间状语从句进行口语交际; 帮助学生加深对西方国家节假日及其风俗的了解。
Step 4
Practice and
improving
(Act 7, 8&9)
1. Play the recorder and and check the speakers’ holiday plans in Activity 7.
2. Play the recorder again and ask the students to listen again and talk about the speakers’ plans to finish Activity 8.
3. Organize the class into small groups. Ask them to complete the passage in Activity 9.
1. Listen carefully and check the speakers’ holiday plans in Activity 7.
2. Listen again and talk about the speakers’ plans to finish Activity 8.
3. Work in groups to complete the passage in Activity 9.
培养听力和口头表达能力; 培养学生良好的语篇意识以及分析语篇行文逻辑顺序的能力。
Step 5
Knowledge
extension and
application
(Around the
world &
Module task)
1. Introduce Stonehenge by playing a video. Then ask the students to read the passage and answer the questions.
(1) How many festivals are mentioned in the passage?
(2) When do people celebrate the festivals?
2. Put students in groups of four and ask them to decide on a festival for their poster.
1. Watch, read and answer the questions.
2. Make a poster about a wonder of the world and present their posters to the class.
培养阅读能力, 自主创新和合作学习的能力; 为学生创造综合运用知识的机会
Step 6
Summarize
1. Guide the students to summarize the key vocabulary and structures in this module.
2. Guide the students to summarize the rules of Adverbial Clauses.
1. Summarize the key vocabulary and structures in this module.
2. Summarize the rules of Adverbial Clauses.
引导学生积极思考, 培养学生归纳总结能力。
Step 7
Consolidation
教师设置巩固检测练习:
从方框内选择恰当的词或短语补全句子。
when; while; as; before; after; since; until; as soon as
①_______they were crossing the Atlantic, many people died. ?
②_______they landed, their first winter was worse than any English winter. ?
③We go to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day.
Parade, _______it goes along several streets and finishes at the famous Macy’s store. ?
④The little girl didn’t stop crying _______she found her mother. ?
⑤I often do my homework _______I get home. ?
⑥I haven’t seen Mr Smith _______he moved to Shanghai. ?
⑦I was watching TV _______my parents came back. ?
⑧It is a good habit of mine to read a few lines _______I go to bed. ?
独立完成检测练习, 并进行自评与互评。
通过检测练习, 便于学生了解自己对本节课的词汇、句型、语法等的掌握情况
Step 8
Homework
1. Make a poster about a traditional festival.
2. Preview Module 3.
3. More exercises about Adverbial Clauses.
板书设计
Unit 3 Language in use
Adverbial Clauses.
1. While we’re staying with our friends, we’re going to spend one day in Qingdao.
2. Before we begin dinner, my father gives thanks for food.
3. When it is all over, everyone helps wash the dishes.
4. And my family always go somewhere interesting as soon as the holiday begins.
5. We have celebrated the festival since the first pioneers from England arrived in America.
6. After they landed, their first winter was worse than any English winter.
教学反思
英语学习是语言的学习, 语言学习是培养理解、表达技能的问题, 不是单纯的知识问题。本节课的设计能够结合教材和学生的特点, 依据新课程标准的精神, 从激发学生的学习兴趣、培养良好的学习习惯、丰富生活经验和提高认知水平出发, 科学安排教学内容, 合理设计教学任务, 开展形式多样的教学活动, 让学生亲身体验, 大胆实践, 积极参与, 共同合作与交流, 帮助学生在任务性的教学途径下发展综合语言运用能力, 使语言学习的过程成为学生形成积极的情感态度、主动思维和大胆实践, 力求学生做到“眼到、手到、口到、心到”。
资料链接
如何过感恩节
每逢感恩节这一天, 美国举国非常热闹, 人们按照习俗前往教堂做感恩祈祷, 城乡市镇到处举行化装游行、戏剧表演和体育比赛等, 学校和商店也都按规定放假休息。孩子们还模仿当年印第安人的模样穿上稀奇古怪的服装, 画上脸谱或戴上面具到街上唱歌、吹喇叭。美国当地最著名的庆典则是从1924年开始的梅西百货感恩节游行(Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade)。
分别了一年的亲人们也会从天南海北归来, 一家人团圆, 品尝以火鸡为主的感恩节美食, 并且对家人说: “谢谢!”好客的美国人也不忘在这一天邀请好友、单身汉或远离家乡的人共度佳节。
感恩节宴会后, 有些家庭还常常做些传统游戏。第一次感恩节, 人们举行了跳舞、比赛等许多娱乐活动, 其中有些一直流传至今。有种游戏叫蔓越橘竞赛, 是把一个装有蔓越橘的大碗放在地上, 4～10名竞赛者围坐在周围, 每人发一份针线。
还有一种玉米游戏也很古老。据说这是为了纪念当年在粮食匮乏的情况下发给每个移民五个玉米而流传下来的。游戏时, 人们把五个玉米藏在屋里, 由大家分头去找, 找到玉米的五个人参加比赛, 其他人在一旁观看。
人们最喜爱的游戏要算南瓜赛跑了。比赛者用一把小勺推着南瓜跑, 规则是绝对不能用手碰南瓜, 先到终点者获奖。比赛用的勺子越小, 游戏就越有意思。
除这些活动外, 有些家庭在节日里驱车到乡间去郊游, 或是坐飞机出去旅行, 特别是当年移民们安家落户的地方——普利茅斯港更是游客们向往的地方。在那里, 可以看到按照“五月花”号仿制的船和普利茅斯石, 还可以花几个小时在移民村里参观。移民村是仿照当年的样子建成的。参观时, 还有专门人员扮成清教徒同游客们聊天, 给人以身临其境的感觉。
从18世纪起, 美国就开始出现一种在感恩节给贫穷人家送一篮子食物的风俗。当时有一群年轻妇女想在一年中选一天专门做善事, 认为选定感恩节是最恰当的。所以感恩节一到, 她们就装上满满一篮食物亲自送到穷人家。这件事远近传闻, 不久就有许多人学着她们的样子做起来。
感恩节购物已经成为了美国人的习俗。从感恩节到圣诞节这一个月, 美国零售业总销售额能占到全年的1/3多, 是各个商家传统的打折促销旺季。疯狂的购物月从感恩节的次日(星期五)开始, 这一天即被称为Black Friday(黑色星期五)。之所以叫这个名字, 据说是因为周五这天一大早, 很多人都要摸着黑冲到商场排队买便宜货, 这种行为有个非常形象的说法, 叫Early Bird(早起的鸟儿)。在美国, 感恩节和中国的春节一样重要!
