Prior to the election, this article would have been very different. My joy for my silly American(ish) traditions is still fighting its way back. I am grateful for all my friends at Stirling and home in Washington who have banded together to support each other in trying times. This year at Thanksgiving I want to remember them while marching forward into the dark times to come. I can’t let my rage take a holiday that I love and so this year I will celebrate what is important and not the sinking feeling that has been omnipresent since the election. But if the terror and rage persist this year, wine is always an option.
Thanksgiving is not a holiday that my immigrant family ever really picked up. We would spend a couple of days off school going camping or going out on day trips but no grand celebration. It was a holiday I generally disliked, I felt left out, and November is a really cold time to go camping in the Pacific Northwest. It seemed from the outside a very patriotic holiday with sketchy roots that only get worse as you learn more about it. Now it is all those things: the celebrated pilgrims did catastrophic things to Native Americans, and it is only celebrated in the US. However, what it is built upon and stands for are not the same.
Friendsgiving is a time to gather with the people who are special in your life. For me, it has always been about recognising the value of friendship and comradery with less of the holiday pressure surrounding it. When celebrating at uni I like to cook seasonal but untraditional things like sprout casserole, or butternut squash soup. Encouraging everyone to bring something of their own potluck style and being extremely liberal with the invitations. The general ‘rules’ of Thanksgiving go out the window. It’s just a good time with good food.
Below are a few different ideas of what to do for your own Thanksgiving meal.
- Hasselback roasted butternut squash – a large and impressive-looking but cheap centrepiece using seasonal veg. The seasoning is customisable to your taste, you could do garlic butter, a balsamic glaze, honey mustard or anything your heart desires.
To make the Hasselback slice your butternut squash in half, clear the seeds and stringy guts from the centre and then slice the squash short ways, not quite slicing all the way through leaving about 2 cm at the base. Season to taste and roast at 200 degrees c for 30-45 minutes or until the squash is soft.
Cooking a squash like this is much faster than doing so whole and so uses less power which is nice when it comes to paying your bills. Plus, it looks fantastic at the centre of the table.
- Warm salads, roast your seasonal veg all together and throw a dressing on top, maybe stir in some cranberries and cashews for additional autumnal vibes and a pop of brightness in the salad. Most roasted veg is fairly forgiving and can be put in the oven at any temperature to cook if you’re roasting or baking anything else.
- Pecan cookies – take your favourite cookie recipe, sub in pecans for chocolate, and when baked top with salted caramel. If you want to push the boat out, buy ice cream to sandwich in between the cookies.
- Ask your American friends! Every family sets a slightly different table, and most people have their own needs, wants, and faves.
- Bring something your family makes/eats a lot together, thanksgiving is a time of reflection and community, especially for us celebrating so far from home, so bring a bit of your home to the table.
We all celebrate Thanksgiving differently – my love for the celebration does not come from the food, definitely not the history and there isn’t really much to build sentimentality off, but the people that I celebrate with make it special. It has been a hard November for many Americans, myself included, I think many of us could use a day where we set our fear and anger aside and remember some of the good that has come out of the past year. Or maybe you want to cry about the current political state of the US with some turkey and wine, either is valid!
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.com
Spencer is a 3rd Year History and English student interested in library science, baking, and storytelling.
