EQ2_Bloggers
11-18-2010, 03:01 AM
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Thanksgiving in the Old World
Memories …Everyone has them and each is precious. Whenever I think about great Thanksgiving memories, I think of my first Thanksgiving in America. Plus I often get asked these questions: do they celebrate Thanksgiving in other parts of the world and when did you first hear about Thanksgiving?
In fact, the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptians held harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations to thank their gods.
Nowadays, the German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, celebrate Thanksgiving as an autumn harvest celebration called Erntedank or Erntedankfest: “harvest thanksgiving festival”. The observance usually takes place in September or October. The typical German, Austrian or Swiss thanksgiving celebration (Erntedankfest) is usually a rural harvest time observance with church services, a parade, music, and a country fair atmosphere. As you might have figured out, the European thanksgiving observance is not anything like the more secular, traditional family holiday and feast in Canada and the United States.
I remember it well, the first time I heard about Thanksgiving! It was in my history class in Switzerland where I learned all about Plymouth, turkeys, pilgrims, Indians and the New World. My British teacher, Mrs. Ewell, explained the meaning of this holiday and its significance, especially that it’s all about expressing gratitude and thankfulness. She taught us that in essence, Thanksgiving is about two cultures colliding. It wasn’t a violent collision, but a collision of two cultures meeting and accepting each other’s existence, and then educating the other about their surroundings. Because the Pilgrims were Christian and because they received most of the help to survive in Plymouth, Massachusetts, they gave thanks to God and their new Native American friends.
She also shared with us her first Thanksgiving experience and its traditions while visiting the US during the holiday and her first turkey meal!
My First Thanksgiving
Nothing could have prepared me for my first Thanksgiving in America. It was hosted by my extended family in the U.S. To get there, we flew from Great Falls, VA to Mission Viejo, CA. To tell you the truth, I was quite nervous before going since I didn’t know what to expect. After all, I have seen a few movies with people celebrating Thanksgiving, and I was wondering if it’s going to be anything like the movie ‘What’s Cooking’ or perhaps like the Thanksgiving specials of the TV show ‘Friends’?
Upon our arrival, I noticed that two beautiful pumpkins were displayed on the front porch and inside the house we were greeted with wondrous fragrances and a festive atmosphere. Some people were watching football; others were in the kitchen helping in the preparation of the feast and the kids were doing other customary Thanksgiving activities, such as making hand-shaped paper turkeys.
Around 2 PM, cocktails and delicious appetizers were served, such as crackers and cheese, all kinds of dips and crostinis. Then by 4 PM, everyone got seated for the turkey feast. The table was elegantly set with decorations in a traditional pattern–a harvest of bright-colored gourds, apples, oranges, chestnuts, walnuts, dried leaves and purple grapes spilling out of a cornucopia in autumn bounty. In the center of the table, there was a great golden brown bird surrounded by all kinds of dishes that I had never seen before: Side and main dishes like cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, gravy, roasted butternut squash soup, sweet potato biscuits, baked ham and of course the big bird and the stuffing. The big bird was carved to perfection and the dinner was amazing. The Thanksgiving feast was filled with hearty conversation and laughter. We talked about life in the New World, life in the Old World, and the meaning of Thanksgiving, and I learned about the common elements of Thanksgiving in America.
After everyone was stuffed, we danced to work up an appetite for desserts, which included apple and pumpkin pies and cheese cake.
All in all the evening proved to be quite magical and a great experience for me. I learned that Thanksgiving is not about a great meal, but it truly brings people and families together…it’s all about sharing and giving thanks, just like what Mrs. Ewell told us back then. It was priceless experience and truly a Thanksgiving I will never forget.
Community Relations’ favorite Thanksgiving Food
We know that everyone has their favorites and least favorite Thanksgiving food: My favorite happens to be cranberry sauce and yams and my least favorite is the turkey leftover! I thought of asking few members of Community Relations about their likes and dislikes and found out that Pex’s favorite food is stuffing, that he could eat plates of the stuff, especially when it has gravy on it, and his least favorite is the canned cranberries. Oltt and Shirra both like turkey, but Oltt’s least favorite food is the red jell-o, whereas Shingo has no problem eating anything! Virrago is very picky when it comes to Thanksgiving, as he likes only his mom’s stuffing but he is not a fan of baked turkey.
Well, another Thanksgiving is around the corner, but the Thanksgiving I remember with the greatest fondness is the first one!
So to all of you, no matter what your traditions maybe, I wish you a joyous, delicious, fun Thanksgiving and bon appétit!
Susan “Soffrina” Rummani
International Community Relations-France
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Thanksgiving in the Old World
Memories …Everyone has them and each is precious. Whenever I think about great Thanksgiving memories, I think of my first Thanksgiving in America. Plus I often get asked these questions: do they celebrate Thanksgiving in other parts of the world and when did you first hear about Thanksgiving?
In fact, the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptians held harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations to thank their gods.
Nowadays, the German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, celebrate Thanksgiving as an autumn harvest celebration called Erntedank or Erntedankfest: “harvest thanksgiving festival”. The observance usually takes place in September or October. The typical German, Austrian or Swiss thanksgiving celebration (Erntedankfest) is usually a rural harvest time observance with church services, a parade, music, and a country fair atmosphere. As you might have figured out, the European thanksgiving observance is not anything like the more secular, traditional family holiday and feast in Canada and the United States.
I remember it well, the first time I heard about Thanksgiving! It was in my history class in Switzerland where I learned all about Plymouth, turkeys, pilgrims, Indians and the New World. My British teacher, Mrs. Ewell, explained the meaning of this holiday and its significance, especially that it’s all about expressing gratitude and thankfulness. She taught us that in essence, Thanksgiving is about two cultures colliding. It wasn’t a violent collision, but a collision of two cultures meeting and accepting each other’s existence, and then educating the other about their surroundings. Because the Pilgrims were Christian and because they received most of the help to survive in Plymouth, Massachusetts, they gave thanks to God and their new Native American friends.
She also shared with us her first Thanksgiving experience and its traditions while visiting the US during the holiday and her first turkey meal!
My First Thanksgiving
Nothing could have prepared me for my first Thanksgiving in America. It was hosted by my extended family in the U.S. To get there, we flew from Great Falls, VA to Mission Viejo, CA. To tell you the truth, I was quite nervous before going since I didn’t know what to expect. After all, I have seen a few movies with people celebrating Thanksgiving, and I was wondering if it’s going to be anything like the movie ‘What’s Cooking’ or perhaps like the Thanksgiving specials of the TV show ‘Friends’?
Upon our arrival, I noticed that two beautiful pumpkins were displayed on the front porch and inside the house we were greeted with wondrous fragrances and a festive atmosphere. Some people were watching football; others were in the kitchen helping in the preparation of the feast and the kids were doing other customary Thanksgiving activities, such as making hand-shaped paper turkeys.
Around 2 PM, cocktails and delicious appetizers were served, such as crackers and cheese, all kinds of dips and crostinis. Then by 4 PM, everyone got seated for the turkey feast. The table was elegantly set with decorations in a traditional pattern–a harvest of bright-colored gourds, apples, oranges, chestnuts, walnuts, dried leaves and purple grapes spilling out of a cornucopia in autumn bounty. In the center of the table, there was a great golden brown bird surrounded by all kinds of dishes that I had never seen before: Side and main dishes like cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, gravy, roasted butternut squash soup, sweet potato biscuits, baked ham and of course the big bird and the stuffing. The big bird was carved to perfection and the dinner was amazing. The Thanksgiving feast was filled with hearty conversation and laughter. We talked about life in the New World, life in the Old World, and the meaning of Thanksgiving, and I learned about the common elements of Thanksgiving in America.
After everyone was stuffed, we danced to work up an appetite for desserts, which included apple and pumpkin pies and cheese cake.
All in all the evening proved to be quite magical and a great experience for me. I learned that Thanksgiving is not about a great meal, but it truly brings people and families together…it’s all about sharing and giving thanks, just like what Mrs. Ewell told us back then. It was priceless experience and truly a Thanksgiving I will never forget.
Community Relations’ favorite Thanksgiving Food
We know that everyone has their favorites and least favorite Thanksgiving food: My favorite happens to be cranberry sauce and yams and my least favorite is the turkey leftover! I thought of asking few members of Community Relations about their likes and dislikes and found out that Pex’s favorite food is stuffing, that he could eat plates of the stuff, especially when it has gravy on it, and his least favorite is the canned cranberries. Oltt and Shirra both like turkey, but Oltt’s least favorite food is the red jell-o, whereas Shingo has no problem eating anything! Virrago is very picky when it comes to Thanksgiving, as he likes only his mom’s stuffing but he is not a fan of baked turkey.
Well, another Thanksgiving is around the corner, but the Thanksgiving I remember with the greatest fondness is the first one!
So to all of you, no matter what your traditions maybe, I wish you a joyous, delicious, fun Thanksgiving and bon appétit!
Susan “Soffrina” Rummani
International Community Relations-France
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Author:
Visit This Blog Page... (http://stationblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/my-first-thanksgiving-feast-in-america/)
Visit StationBlog (http://stationblog.wordpress.com/)