Thanksgiving.

Janet Siskind accurately describes Thanksgiving in her article “The Invention of Thanksgiving" by saying that “Thanksgiving is inescapably part of American culture” (Siskind 167).  There’s no way to avoid those big American holidays.  Christmas decorations are plastered around stored before Thanksgiving is even celebrated.  The holidays are part of being American which means that it is almost impossible to not know that a holiday is coming up soon.  Siskind says that “Thanksgiving is a day on which all persons who consider themselves Americans celebrate […] centered around a stuffed turkey” (Siskind 167).  Most families have a generic formula for celebrating Thanksgiving, like being surrounded family and eating turkey. Janet Siskind goes on to describe that traditionally “[f]ootball games are scheduled and televised throughout the nation; an elaborately constructed, now-traditional Macy’s parade may be viewed” (Siskind 167).  Another tradition that is often celebrated by typical families is the tradition of watching football games along with the televised parades all day.  Although there are some generic traditions that take place during Thanksgiving, some families have their own Thanksgiving traditions that reflect on their individual identity. 

Every year my family will get together at my Uncle’s house for Thanksgiving early in the morning and the celebration last all day.  As a whole we follow the typically traditions of having turkey, watching football and the parades on TV. Our family prepares mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, mac n cheese and other traditional “American” foods for Thanksgiving.  I call these food items “American” because they are supported culturally through media.  Although these items are typical, my family has their own recipes and traditions involved in the preparation of some certain items.  My Uncles usually cook the meats, like the turkey and the ham, while my Aunt and some of the other women in my family prepare the rest of the feast.  I think it is important to note the reason that the men prepare the meat in our family relates to the concept of meat has a masculine connotation.  In commercials, it is always the husbands who are involved in the cookouts, and the preparation of the meat.  We, like many families presented in movies that contain Thanksgiving, pray before we eat.  I’ve always grown up where the tradition was that the kids sat at one table to eat while the adults sat at another.  This particular theme is sometimes viewed in movies.  Although our Thanksgivings tend to be disorganized, I would have to say that for the most part we have a traditional Thanksgiving with very little variations.