Thanksgiving in Different Cultures

Samuel Parigela

Thanksgiving is usually seen as the typical American holiday. The traditional turkey, pie and mashed potatoes are sometimes overwhelmingly entrenched in Thanksgiving conventions. While this isn’t a bad thing at all, it’s often overlooked that there’s more than one style of Thanksgiving cooking. From complete overhauls of the Thanksgiving meal to simple add-ons that enhance the flavor, it simply has to be stated that different cuisines have their own versions on the standard feast. 

Personally, I have been to a few Thanksgivings with ‘unconventional’ food. A while ago, my family was invited to another Indian family’s house on Thanksgiving. Around the center of the table were some of the staples: mashed potatoes, beans, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. At the center of the table, though, was a platter full of turkey biryani, which is a popular South Asian dish consisting of meat, rice and spices. The smell was amazing. Frankly, I don’t know, looking back, whether to call this some sort of ‘fusion’ or just a variation on Biryani. Regardless, it was a delicious way to spice up a meat that can, at times, be bland. 

There are other renditions of the traditional Thanksgiving meal as well. Louisiana, with its  extensive history and status as a ‘melting pot’ of cultures, may be a part of the US, but Jambalaya is a mix of French, African and Spanish cuisine and is definitely worth trying if you find yourself in that part of the country. Being a dish that is interestingly similar to biryani with meat, rice and spices also making up the majority of the dish, it offers a completely different set of flavors. It has a much more wet, cooked broth, and a smoky taste, thanks to the onions, peppers, and spices that add to the meal. The flavors truly pop, and it is a must-try, even if not on Thanksgiving Day. 

In some other cultures, all it takes to celebrate Thanksgiving is simply incorporating certain foods on the table. For example, kimchi can be found on the table at Thanksgiving for some Korean American families. I also specifically remember our neighbors placing steaming hot tamales next to the turkey one earlier Thanksgiving. To add, an anonymous OCSA student commented that he observes Thanksgiving with his family and mostly stays true to the ‘traditional’ idea of Thanksgiving food. However, he had to note that sometimes he likes to add other flavors to his meal. “I put beans on the side of my turkey and chopped jalapenos in my mashed potatoes, sometimes,” he remarked. 

As American of a holiday as it is, Thanksgiving does have its variations among different cultures and cuisines. Some prefer to stick to the conventional Thanksgiving dinner, but others like to infuse their culture in their food, whether it is changing up the entire feast or just putting in small additions.