Is There A Wrong Way To Celebrate Thanksgiving?
With Thanksgiving just passed, I look back on this year, and all years prior, and wonder if I ever celebrated Thanksgiving correctly. Most of my Thanksgiving was not spent at home surrounded by a meticulous feast. In fact, I have never once eaten a turkey on Thanksgiving. With that being said, I still look forward to Thanksgiving break every year and my family and I have adopted some of our own traditions for Thanksgiving.
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Skiing
Though not your traditional turkey bowl, turkey trot, or family football game, skiing is our family’s tradition. Since the age of 6, I have been shredding the slopes. As I incrementally improved, I graduated from the bunny hills of 4 lakes to the mountains of Keystone, Vail, and Tahoe. Skiing has become more than just an activity, but a shared family passion. Over the years, our tradition of winter sports has extended beyond our immediate family but has also brought us closer to our cousins and family friends who share this love for winter sports. To me, this epitomizes the meaning of Thanksgiving. We are connected by our shared experiences and memories from the crisp wind on our faces while shooting down the runs to the cozy evenings around the fireplace.
Although this year we were not able to make it out to the skiing, I have compensated by ice skating and playing in the snow this past Sunday with my brother and cousins. Snowmen were assembled and memories were made. I enjoyed this Thanksgiving, but will always look forward to spending my Thanksgiving on the slopes.
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Food
Having never eaten turkey on Thanksgiving day, food still remains an important part of our Thanksgiving traditions. When Thanksgiving is spent away from home, my parents cook easy dishes such as tomato and egg – simple yet reminiscent of home. While at home, we like to prepare pork belly and fish in lieu of turkey. Even though my Thanksgiving feast may look different, I still appreciate the familiarity and comfort associated with the dishes prepared by my family. While others stress the importance of classic dishes such as turkey and mashed potatoes, I believe that it is the act of a shared meal, no matter how elaborate, that is the defining principle of a Thanksgiving feast.
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Family
Gathered around the table, or on the chair lift up the mountain, Thanksgiving has always been a time to cherish moments with family. Oftentimes, it is part of the few times each year that I get to see my cousins and grandparents. Though there is undoubtedly a stigma attached to Thanksgiving family conversations, I have yet to experience too much conflict. Rather, our time together is mostly filled with laughter, inside jokes, and games. Furthermore, I am fortunate enough to have cousins my own age, meaning our races down the slopes or walks after dinner are always a great time. Thanksgiving is arguably the pinnacle of family gatherings and each year fond memories are created together.
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Shopping
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, there are also 3 other days that also call for celebration, or rather more specifically splurging. During the span of Thursday to the following Monday, now deemed as “cyber weekend”, I take advantage of the seemingly endless deals. Ranging from clothes to electronics to assorted accessories, I spend hours browsing websites, only to buy a couple of shirts that I will ultimately return. Still, this thrill of finding deals and reimagining my whole wardrobe is worth the hours spent scrolling through and debating whether something gets a spot in my cart.
This year, similar to all the previous, most of the shopping was done strictly online. It seems that no one goes in person to shop anymore when all you have to do is reach a certain price threshold to receive free shipping. Across 3 days of shopping, over 10 websites visited, and 20+ probable items, only 3 things were bought. In a mix of things being out of stock and being realistic, my extensive cart of shoes, headphones, jackets, and pants was narrowed down to 1 crewneck, 2 shirts, and 1 pair of pants which I already know are being returned.
My Thanksgiving may seem non-traditional, but I enjoy each moment nonetheless. It is a time for everyone to slow down and appreciate what they have, family, food, and things to be grateful for. Whether I am skiing in Colorado or at my cousin’s house, the sense of home and feeling of gratitude is always present through the people around me and the food on the table. I even get to splurge a little bit before Christmas taking advantage of the seemingly unbeatable deals. Everyone celebrates in their own way and I would love to hear about your unique Thanksgiving traditions.