美国人欢度感恩节

Americans are marking the annual Thanksgiving holiday Thursday with family gatherings, meals and bargain shopping.

Feasts centering on turkeys with an array of traditional sides and desserts are a tradition for the holiday that falls on the fourth Thursday in November.

On the eve of the holiday, U.S. President Barack Obama and his family handed out food to clients of a center in Washington that provides food, clothing and other services to the poor.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Obama followed a specifically presidential tradition of "pardoning" a turkey.  The White House ran an online contest in the past week asking people to vote on which bird should get the pardon, "Cheese" or fellow turkey "Mac."  While Cheese won the official pardon, both turkeys - each weighing about 23 kilograms - will be spared the chopping block.