I started celebrating in 2019 when my family and I were invited to a family friend’s house for Thanksgiving. Since then my family has been hosting. As each family has different cultures and traditions it made me think about how it can show on the Thanksgiving table. My mom makes dolma which is a Turkish dish made with grape leaves stuffed with rice. We also have baklava for dessert which is a sweet flaky pastry made with layers of phyllo dough filled with nuts and honey. Adding your own elements to holidays is what makes them enjoyable and personal.
I asked a couple of people what untraditional foods they have for Thanksgiving.
Saanj Selarka’s family implements their Indian culture into Thanksgiving. Pav Bhaji is an Indian dish and to Saanj’s family a must-have on the Thanksgiving table. The vegetables mix with a spicy curry with a side of bread to dip. The difficulty of the dish is worth it because of how tasty it is.
“It’s me and my sister’s favorite dish and we don’t have it often because of how difficult it is to make. We look forward to it each Thanksgiving because it’s one of the few times we have it each year.”
Lindsey Schassberger has Sausages because of her German background.
“I look forward to it because it’s really tasty and helps me connect back to my roots which isn’t always something I can do.”
Micah Choi’s Korean culture implements pouring alcohol for elders and is shown as giving respect.
“Soju is an alcoholic drink that my family has, and pouring for your elders is something that is a major part of my culture and we incorporate it back into Thanksgiving.”
Sarah Ring’s family has a Shepard’s pie recipe that she uses that belongs to her grandma. She carried this recipe along with her to contribute her culture to Thanksgiving.
“ When my grandmother was younger she visited Ireland to reconnect with her roots. While she was there she discovered the recipe of Shepherd’s pie and came up with the idea of connecting this Irish dish back into Thanksgiving. ”
Lara Hernandez has two dishes on Thanksgiving that are special to her Hispanic culture.
“I usually have pernil, which is roasted pork that you can eat with rice, and my moms make it with a sweet marination, and also pan de jamon which is bread filled with ham, olives, and raisins.”
