In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.
We trace the first Thanksgiving dinner to a poorly documented 1621 celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Tradition, not necessarily history, tells us that the Pilgrims and Native Americans sat down to a rich harvest feast. It had been a harsh and challenging winter, and the Pilgrims would not have survived without the help of the local indigenous people, who also taught the pilgrims about farming. The harvest was plentiful, and there was much for the Pilgrims to be thankful for.
The reality may have been very different, but the idea has remained with Americans. We gather with family and friends and give thanks over a rich harvest feast that typically includes turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, cranberry sauce, cornbread, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and other delicious fall foods.
I’m feeling homesick this week. It’s the first time I won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family or celebrating it at all, for that matter. Australians, understandably, do not celebrate Thanksgiving (and it’s spring here). If I’d thought ahead and planned better, I would’ve bought a plane ticket home.
Although I’m not gathering with my family and enjoying the bounty of the season, I still have much to be grateful for. Above all, I’m thankful that I’m safe and sound in Australia with the one I love. If there’s only one reason to be away from my family, Theo is it.
I’m thankful for my family and friends, always loving and supportive.
I’m thankful to have a roof over my head and food on the table. Those are not things everyone in this world has every night.
I’m thankful for my health.
I’m thankful for the joy, comfort, and health of my cat and that she is lovingly cared for by my mom. And for Theo’s sweet dog.
I’m thankful for new beginnings and opportunities.
Hi Cosette,
I’m thankful that I was able to order a turkey and continue our American tradition. Although in the US it was a ‘semi-homemade’ Thanksgiving, I always made the turkey, gravy and real mashed potatoes but I always bought the pies or had friends bring them. This year I discovered I could not buy a pumpkin pie as many people just looked at me sideways when I asked. I ended up having to make one from scratch and I can’t believe how much better it is than from the store.
I’m thankful I have a job here in Tasmania, that the Aussies have accepted me and my traditions with open arms and usually a giggle. I am thankful my family is together and my children are doing so well in their first year here making new friendships and settling in their new schools. Being a nurse, I am thankful for our health as I see people everyday who are not as fortunate. I am thankful for the Internet so I am able to keep in touch with old friends while I try to make new ones here. I am thankful for my husband, my good reason to be away from my family and friends. I am thankful for the opportunity he has given us to offer our children and myself the experience of living in another country with another culture. Even if the Aussies don’t eat pumpkin pie here.
Homemade pumpkin pie is the best. I’m glad you had your Thanksgiving down under. Thank you for comments!
I love Thanksgiving, and have continued to celebrate it here in Scotland. I intend to keep up the tradition when I move home. Being mindful of being thankfull is such a wonderful idea.
Many Australians don’t like the traditional hot Christmas meal that we iinherited from the UK, and this prompted a tradition among some people to have a ‘Christmas in July’ – an excuse to have the big meal at a cooler time of the year. I decided that’s when I’d make my future Australian Thanksgivings.
I was given a recipe for Pumpkin Pie years ago by an American friend. I have often made it in Australia, but when I tried to make it in Florida, it was awful. Florida doesn’t have the right kind of pumpkins. I learned quickly that I had to use canned pumpkin, but I still love my traditional ‘real’ pumpkin Australian Pumpkin Pie.
I have so much to be thankful for, that there isn’t enough room in your blog for it all!
Thanks for this post. 🙂
Thanksgiving in July works for me! Thanks for your comments.