Friendsgiving

The first Thanksgiving in the U.S. is commonly traced back to 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusets as a celebration of food after harvest season. Whether it was between the Native Americans and Pilgrims as we were taught as children is up for debate, but it makes for a good story. The day we celebrate it today, the fourth Thursday in November, has roots tracing back to the first date proclamation made by President George Washington and another by Abraham Lincoln declaring all Americans celebrate it on the same day (Source: Wikipedia). 

As the U.S. is a melting pot of religions and cultures, Thanksgiving is the one non-denominational day of the year (besides the 4th of July) where every American has the day off to spend time with family and friends. For reasons unbeknownst to me, both days also include a parade, but that's a blog for another time. The Thanksgiving feast is typically centered around a turkey with various trimmings and side dishes depending on the family tradition. In the Midwest, we always have stuffing, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes and gravy. My sister-in-law who grew up near Louisville, Kentucky brought creamed corn and sweet potatoes into the mix. The day ends with family gathered around the TV to watch endless games of back to back football. 

When you are an American living outside of the U.S., Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that is hard to miss, so you do everything you can to recreate it in your present environment. Which often means, gathering close friends and cooking the traditional meal. Hence, the name for this post. This was my 2nd Thanksgiving outside of the U.S. and by far the closest to the real thing I could have ever asked for. My husband and I cooked a whole turkey and friends pitched in to make the side dishes and dessert. In the end we had enough food for 6 of us, left overs for several days, a feeling of being home, and above all, gratefulness that I could share this day with others just as excited about it as I was.