The holiday celebrated and widely recognized as Thanksgiving is most commonly traced to the time of the Pilgrims’ first successful autumn harvest in what would eventually become the United States of America. In those days, settlers would “give thanks” on many occasions, gathering to feast in celebration of the safe arrival of new ships, the end of droughts or torrential rains, as well as bountiful harvests. Although Americans have mostly condensed their day of giving thanks into the fourth Thursday in November, some of the original spirit of the Pilgrims’ celebrations still persist in today’s festivities, albeit mixed with newly developed traditions as well. Today, let’s take a look at three elements that you can expect to encounter at a Thanksgiving celebration.
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is a day when people reflect on the past year and express what they are thankful for. It could be a major event such as getting a promotion at work or getting admitted to their dream university. Or, it could be something more personal like perfecting a family recipe or making a new friend. Often our lives become so fast-paced that we don’t have time to appreciate good fortune and charitable people around us. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to be intentional about showing appreciation for the people and things that make us happy.
It isn’t uncommon for families and friends to go around the dinner table and share the specific occasions they are thankful for, often eliciting smiles and laughter as the assembled look back on the year. A key difference between Thanksgiving and other instances of giving thanks or celebrating others is that typically Thanksgiving gratitudes are just that— words of thanks unaccompanied by a present.
The Main Course
While gathered around the table, it is not unusual to feast upon a spread of dishes that are almost exclusively made and eaten during the Thanksgiving season. These dishes traditionally consist of ingredients that the Pilgrims cultivated using knowledge shared by the indigenous people of North America, such as corn, potatoes, cranberries, green beans, and pumpkins. While the host of the meal is typically in charge of preparing the turkey, guests will typically bring a dish to share just like communities would gather in celebration years ago. Below is a “bite-sized” sample of what you might expect to eat on Turkey Day.
A staple at the Thanksgiving table is green bean casserole. A mixture of green beans (canned or fresh) are mixed with a creamy mushroom soup and are topped with crispy onions before being baked in the oven until bubbling. It is a dish that is fairly simple to put together but is sure to impress anyone that tries it.
This next baked dish might sound a little unconventional, but baked sweet potatoes are another uniquely fall food enjoyed at Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes are parboiled before being tossed with sugar and spices and baked in the oven. Just before serving, they are topped with marshmallows, the same kind you might roast over a campfire, and broiled until they are golden-brown. This dish may be too sweet for some, but it’s perfect for those who are always looking to sneak in a sweet bite before the pie is served.
An oddly perfect cylinder of burgundy jelly might be an odd sight at any time of year, but it is right at home among the assortment of foods you can expect to find on Thanksgiving. Tart cranberry sauce is a crucial component of the otherwise overwhelmingly rich meal. Although the sauce can easily be made by boiling cranberries with sugar and water until thickened, there are several excellent producers of canned cranberry sauce that many people prefer to use to save some time.
The centerpiece of the meal: the turkey. Options ranging anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11.3 kilograms) or more, most commonly the big bird is oven roasted for hours, though others opt to fry it in a vat of hot oil for a crispy finish. Being the main focus of the feast, it is important to correctly calculate how large of a turkey is needed for the number of people gathering. It is generally accepted that a 15-pound (6.8 kilogram) turkey is capable of feeding a group of 12, though people will usually buy more than necessary to make sure guests can take some leftovers home with them.
Like all large meals, you might be ready for a nap after eating a couple plates of Thanksgiving food, but the sensation might be amplified due to an amino acid found in turkey, Tryptophan, which lulls us to sleep as it boosts melatonin and serotonin production in our bodies. You should try your best to fight this sleepy sensation, as although the meal has concluded, some would argue the real celebrations have yet to begin.
Entertainment
Modern Thanksgiving entertainment is focused around the TV, as it is something that you can leave on and people can sit and watch at their leisure. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options to entertain you before and after the meal.
Bright and early in the morning, millions of people tune in to watch thousands of volunteers escort massive balloons through the streets of New York City. The stream of floats includes inflatable versions of everyone’s favorite characters and is accompanied by live performances from pop and Broadway stars alike. Though the lineup changes from year to year, Santa never fails to occupy the final place in the parade, welcoming the start of the Christmas season.
Once dishes have piled up in the sink and Santa has cleared the parade route, you might keep the TV on to catch another Thanksgiving mainstay, the National Dog Show. One of the three major US dog shows you can easily view over 3,000 dogs of various breeds being shown in numerous categories before culminating in the prestigious “Best in Show” award.
Being one of the most popular sports in America, professional American football has long been a part of Thanksgiving Day, and there will always be a game on air. While there is no formal name for the Thanksgiving Day games, at least 3 professional teams schedule matches to broadcast so there is something for fans to watch. Although, some people might turn off the tube and opt to play in their own football game in an effort to burn off some of the calories from the food consumed earlier.
One final option for those feeling a bit more ambitious would be to participate in what is colloquially known as a “turkey trot.” These 5- or 10-kilometer runs are usually held after people finish their meals and often feature live music, more food, and fun activities for the younger members of the family. Turkey trots feel like autumn festivals and are an excellent way to celebrate and give thanks as a community while getting in some good physical activity.
Although brief, I hope this peek into Thanksgiving celebrations piqued your interest in experiencing this truly American holiday. Keep in mind that the ways holidays are celebrated are just as unique as those that celebrate them, so don’t be surprised if you come across a Thanksgiving tradition that we didn’t cover today.
If you want to learn more about studying abroad, make an appointment with one of YGC’s advisors by calling 03-3379-7771.
