Thanksgiving is translated into 感恩 in Chinese. Let's analyze the pictographic meaning of 感恩.
1, 感 (Feel)
感 is formed by 咸 + 心. 咸 is formed by 戌 + 口. I am going to analyze one by one.
1a, Let's look character 戌.
The evolution of character 戌
From left to right
Shell bone, bronze, big seal, small seal, and clerical scripts.
Explanation
Shell bone script: a pole-axe, ancient weapon.
Bronze script: the left triangle is the axe, the top right is a sharp fork which is another offensive part. the bottom X is the handle of the weapon, the curve of the bar makes it easier to switch from using axe to using fork. Because the weapon was not used for at least 2000+ years, the real weapon has never been found, the description above is the best guess.
Small seal script: the axe bottom edge is disconnected with other part of the character, making it strange, and unreally like axe anymore. It may be for easier to write by the creator.
Clerical script: similar to small seal script.
戌 as a weapon was disappeared long time ago, it became to be the "11th earthly branch" (第11地支), which is the meaning most people know right now. Few people know its original meaning of weapon.
1b, Let's look at character 咸 (Salty).
The evolution of character 咸
Shell bone, bronze, small seal, and clerical scripts
Explanation
Shell bone script: the top and right is character 戌 in shell bone script, an ancient pole-axe; the bottom is character 口(Mouth). The axe is to injure or kill enemies, resulting in bleeding, when the blood dropping in mouth, you feel a little bit salty.
But why ancient Chinese didn't use character Salt to mean Salty?
I guess, first there was no character Salt created at the time of shell bone script. Secondly, the taste of blood was well known by everyone who may cut himself by anything. Therefore, using the taste of blood was the only way to express salty in that time.
Bronze script: the top is similar to character 戌 in bronze script, the bottom is character Mouth.
Small seal script: similar to bronze script except the short horizontal line hanging in the air.
Clerical script: similar to small seal script.
It is time to put 咸 (Salty) and 心 (Heart) together to form 感 (Feel)
The evolution of character 感
From left to right
Big seal, small seal, and clerical scripts.
Explanation
Big seal script: no shell bone, bronze scripts indicate that the character 感 was appeared much later than 咸 because 感（Feel) is perception, much more complicated feeling than sensation.
The top is character 咸 (Salty), here it means bleeding. The bottom is character 心 (Heart), which ancient Chinese believed that the Heart is the center of nervous system, extremely sensitive to pain which is the cause of bleeding.
Small seal script: similar to big seal script except the hanging short horizontal line.
Clerical script: similar to older scripts on the top; the bottom is character Heart in clerical script.
2, 恩（Grace）
恩 = 因（Because) + 心 (Heart)
2a, Let's look character 因.
The evolution of character 因
From left to right
Shell bone, bronze, small seal, clerical scripts
Explanation
Shell bone script: a character 大 (Big) in the middle of rectangle. 《汉典》explains “甲骨文字形，象人在车席子上“ （Shell bone script, it looks like a person sitting on a mat on a vehicle). What is rectangle? It is mat for person to sit? Why does it mean Because?
I think that the 大 is not siting, but standing person. The rectangle may be a mat on bed for sleep. The sleeping place is the safest area for the person, he could be completely relaxed, feel peaceful, and his home. He feels that it is his base, original ground, which affects his behavior, good or bad.
Bronze script: similar to shell bone script.
Small seal script: similar to older scripts with more symmetrical, and rounded lines.
Clerical script: similar to older script with all straight lines.
2b, Let's look at character 恩 (Grace)
The evolution of character 恩
From left to right
Big seal, small seal, and clerical scripts
Explanation
Big seal script: character 恩 has no shell bone, bronze scripts, indicating it was created much later because its meaning is more complicated.
The top is character 因, here it means someone's home, safe place to live. The bottom is character Heart (心). When you gave someone something (gift, advice, or action) which let him feel peace in mind, or a home like place to life,, you have grace to him.
Small seal script: similar to big seal script.
Clerical script: similar to old scripts. Same as above, the clerical script of Heart is very different from the older scripts.
We have understood character 感, and character 恩. Put them together to form 感恩, which means Grateful. Chinese also translate Thanksgiving to 感恩.
