Popular folklore tells us that Thanksgiving was born of a partnership between Pilgrims and Native Americans in the early years of British settlement in the Americas. In grade school we were taught that without the generosity and care of the native people the settlers would have perished in their newly adopted home due to lack of food and inadequate prepartions.
With this spirit in mind, it has become for me a cherished holiday that I have celebrated as regularly as possible no matter where I’ve lived. In 1995, my first year living outside of the United States at Thanksgiving, I celebrated with fellow Peace Corps volunteers who were keen to recreate the holiday. In Sydney, the tradition continued as I introduced Aussie mates to the meal. Most recently, in Auckland, I have gathered family friends and shared our traditions with the addition of a golf tournament (still to be won by yours truly).
This year, however, was all about going home to my people. After three years or COVID delayed travel, I boarded a plane in Auckland and flew direct to Chicago to reconnect with family and friends I hadn’t seen for way too long. Arriving the day before Thanksgiving (the busiest travel day in America!) meant my whole family would be assembled in one place. Cue the noise, the laughter, the hugs, the food, the wine, the banter, the American football, and the pies!
Here are some things that made this Thanksgiving extra special:
- Seeing my parents after three long years
- Meeting my newest nephew who had already turned one!
- Hugging my nieces and nephews
- Laughing with my sisters and brother
- Cooking our favourite foods
- Watching my kids and husband chilling with my family
- Eating so much delicious food
- Learning travel hacks from the experts
- Yelling at the TV during the football
For me, Thanksgiving is the best holiday ever because it’s all about connecting with people. No presents need to be bought. The only requirements are being grateful, hungry and a willingness to help with the dishes.