One of the most popular American traditions is Thanksgiving. Falling on the last Thursday in November (and Friday – day after Thanksgiving or better known as Black Friday), family gather to stuff their bellies with Turkey, stuffing, cornbread, green bean and sweet potato casseroles, biscuits, gravy, and pecan and pumpkin pies! My stomach full just thinking about all this food. If you consider regional variations then there are even more Thanksgiving dishes.
While the women are in the kitchen – yes I went there — the men need entertainment so the NFL teamed up with the Turkey to bring Americans not one but three football games. Add wine or beer to the mix, colorful (using it as an adjective people!) family members and you’ve got a holiday to remember.
When immigrants immigrate to a country they do their best to adapt. (By immigrants I am referring to those who came to the US in recent years and not those on the Mayflower). Learning the language, eating the local, watching TV shows, listening to music, participating in cultural activities, befriending locals and so on. First generations and beyond have the advantage of being born and raised in the “new” culture so they have a much easier time. Most if not all consider the “new” culture their primary culture and the home country of their parents as their secondary.
One way to adapt to the American culture is to embrace the holidays that are celebrated in America especially Thanksgiving. What better way for immigrants to adapt than in the realm of food, family, football, and shopping. These are all universal loves (except for American football). But many immigrant families add their own twist to Thanksgiving by combining both their own culture and that of America.
For many years my family did not celebrate Thanksgiving. We did embrace Black Friday shopping but given that we do not eat meat on Thursdays we opted out of attending Thanksgiving gatherings or holding one of our own. I’m not sure exactly what the impetus was for us to finally prepare the whole enchilada but one fine year I said “we’re doing Thanksgiving” and Thanksgiving we did. But on a Friday! I searched for all the traditional Thanksgiving fixings and after a morning of swiping our credit cards, I started the tradition of making mashed potatoes, green beans and mushrooms (healthier and easier version of the casserole), biscuits, pecan pie, and World’s Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey. In recent years I’ve added cornbread and depending on the guests we tweak some more to accommodate various dietary needs.
We embraced the American culture but accommodated Thanksgiving to fit our religious practices. Hot off the press – this year my mom seasoned the turkey with ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, and garam masala. All staples in Indian cooking. The Turkey has been Indianfied.
Many other families who either don’t eat meat or prefer their own cuisine skip the Turkey all together and make a meal that suites their palates. Another way that immigrants and those who cannot make it home to their families during the holiday add a twist is by hosting Friendsgiving. I first learned of this during business school when my section held a Friendsgiving potluck.
America was formed by an amalgam of people who brought their own cultures when they made the voyage across sea or land to this country. So why not carry that forward to a holiday that celebrates togetherness. Love. Family. Entertainment. And ends with consumerism at its finest.
Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on what we are grateful for, to appreciate the life that’s been given to us because nothing in life is certain. Especially, life itself. I am grateful
for my family — for my parents, sister, and husband who love and support me. For my friends with whom I can spend hours conversing about “life.” For my health and love for fitness classes to keep me in shape physically and mentally. For having a job because a girl’s gotta be financially independent. For my side projects to keep the learning going and to flex my creative muscle.
What are your thanksgiving traditions? What are you grateful for?