Warm and crowded, the house is full
filled with family
filled with laughter and conversations and
Lots and lots
and lots
of food
Roasting, crispy golden-brown
a turkey almost too big for the oven
trays of rolls, crunchy green beans, thick gravy
a pile of mashed potatoes, heavy with butter
a pool of crimson cranberries
and tucked away,
my favorite
mellow pumpkin
caramelized pecan
a dozen fresh apples
nested in flaky dough,
saved for last
Families gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving meal together.
About the Holiday
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. National myth tells the story of the pilgrims, who sailed to America in search of freedom. Arriving at a place called Plymouth in 1620, the pilgrims struggled to survive through the harshwinter. In the spring of 1621, the nearby Native American tribes offered assistance to the pilgrims, teaching them how to grow corn and catch local fish and game. Later that year, the pilgrims invited the Native Americans to celebrate their bountiful harvest together with a feast known as the First Thanksgiving. While this is a pleasant story, it is far from historically accurate. Additionally, it glosses over the fact that most of the interactions between European settlers and Native American tribes were violent, and that the tribes faced centuries of cruel mistreatment.
An artist imagines what the first Thanksgiving might have looked like; in reality, we aren’t sure exactly what happened.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated as a time of gratitude. Families gather to give thanks, to cook, and enjoy a big, homemade feast. Many people travel for Thanksgiving, going to stay with grandparents or other family. Common Thanksgiving dishes include a whole turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. For dessert, many families enjoy pies. Favorite pie flavors include pumpkin, pecan, apple and sweet potato. Some people watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a parade with giant balloons and fancy floats in New York City. Other people like to watch football games on TV, play football themselves, or volunteer to help others who might not be able to afford their own Thanksgiving meal.
Traditional Thanksgiving dessert: lots of pie!
Discussion Questions:
Does your family celebrate Thanksgiving, or holidays like it?
Thanksgiving is a holiday focused on gratitude. What are you thankful for?
Why do you think Americans tell the story of the first Thanksgiving, even though its likely not entirely true?
