What does Thanksgiving mean to your family?

Thanksgiving to my family means coming together to celebrates each other’s greatness.  Since early age I have always celebrated Thanksgiving with my mother side of the family.  However, my mother is the youngest sibling out of 12. Each year thanksgiving comes around I’m truly excited, for the reason that I get to see families members I have not communicated with for a few months.  Thanksgiving is our kick off celebration for our holiday’s celebration.

            The meaning of thanksgiving to my family means celebrating our family love.  Before we all start having dinner, everyone in our family has to go around and say what they are thankful for.  Usually some of us start tearing up because some of us have gone through difficult times and we let our heart out to our family members.  On the other hand, we support each other by hugging and giving each other a kiss on the cheek, letting each other know that we have to stay strong and be there for one another.  We end our family moment by having my mothers oldest sister saying a pray for the family, blessing each and one of us.  My family’s thanksgiving is a day to thank god for blessing us with this wonderful family even though at times we fight with each other we know how to make up. 

            In continuation, my family celebrates thanksgiving the American culture way.  Even though most of my cousins and I are first generations American citizens our family does not protract our Mexican culture food on thanksgiving.  One would assume that we would have postole and tamales as our dinner or more Mexican ethnic dishes.  However, my family still cooks, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, ham, pumpkin pie, corn bread, and mac and cheese.  I’m truly glad we do this because it feels like it makes the celebration more meaningful.  Having food that the natives American and pilgrims ate together countless years ago. 

            Now that I’ve taken this ethnic studies class the meaning of thanksgiving for me has slightly changed.  I feel like my family and I are so caught up with our own family that we forget to give thanks to the Native Americans.  This is really their holiday we are just supporting them and celebrating with them.  At my thanksgiving dinner this year I will start a new tradition.  I will ask my family members to take a moment and send our blessing to these Native people that had to face countless struggles throughout their history.