Thanksgiving is widely recognized as a holiday that brings people together. Celebrations may look different for everyone, but the holiday often brings warm and lasting memories. Good food, fun and tradition are woven together to create the perfect environment for appreciating the little things. From longtime customs to new spins on tradition, Eastern students and staff share their ways of celebrating.
For many, Thanksgiving serves as a window into the past. It encourages families to look back on cherished memories and honor loved ones with the continuation of certain traditions.
Eastern’s Public Safety Director, Michael Bicking, can attest to this. His family gathers at his stepmother’s house to honor his father who died two years ago. “Thanksgiving was always my dad’s favorite time,” Bicking said. His sister and her husband come all the way from Nashville for the occasion he said. For Bicking, there are many parts of life to be thankful for. “I am thankful for my youngest, who is 22 years old … she graduates from the police academy in December,” he said.
Similarly, Kathy Hecht from Eastern’s Warner Memorial Library plans to prepare her aunt’s corn recipe as a way to continue on her tradition. Hecht is hosting at her home this year and will use the time to break out the family’s turkey costume. “It’s usually me or my son who wears it, because we’re the ones who are really into it,” Hecht said. For this Thanksgiving, she is most thankful for “my children, and little things … I’m thankful for my cat, I’m thankful for plants, you know, the things that make me happy every day.”
Thanksgiving is also a time for exploring new ways of celebrating. For some families, this means blending cultural traditions into the day’s activities. Vesa Pema celebrates by combining Albanian culture with the classic American Thanksgiving. Pema said, “my parents grew up in Albania, so there’s no traditions, like, they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving over there.” Her parents have adopted many of the American traditions of the holiday, such as making cranberry sauce and ham. Pema’s family also honors their Albanian heritage by sharing a shot of an Albanian beverage and say “gezour!” This is akin to saying “cheers” and serves as a joyful expression of gratitude. Pema is most thankful for her dad’s amazing cooking this year and is excited to see what this Thanksgiving Day has to offer on the menu.
Not everyone looks forward to the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Zach Howard, a self-proclaimed “picky-eater,” looks forward to his family’s makeshift soda bar. When it comes to preparing Thanksgiving foods, Howard said, “I’m trying to touch it with a 10-foot pole. I don’t really like it.” Instead, he looks forward to the variety of sodas and other drinks his family serves. “I’m excited for soda. We get a bunch of drinks, like a bunch of lemonades, Sprites, Fantas and Powerades,” he said. For Howard, there’s a lot to be thankful for this year, including family and friends. “My friends are here. It’s been a funny and nice year, even though it’s my senior year, I’m really going to miss these people,” he said.
Amanda Bieber’s family also skips the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Instead, her family buys a rotisserie chicken, which helps ease the stress of slow cooking a large main dish for the whole family. Their family uses this time to make classic sides instead, like sweet potato casserole. “No one is doing nothing. Like, it’s a holiday where we all pitch in one way or another. I think it’s the only holiday that’s really like that … everyone in our family puts something together,” she said. Their family also emphasizes the importance of rest and recuperation. Bieber is especially thankful for the family and friends who make up her support system.
For Tim Curcuruto, Thanksgiving centers on family togetherness and creativity. For them, togetherness includes the incorporation of written words. They like to make haikus together, a tradition Curcuruto describes as “the perfect way to creatively capture a special moment in time, like sharing a meal together with family and friends. It’s such a joy when we go around the table and share.” For him, family is an integral part of his Thanksgiving experience. During this season, he is thankful for his ability to be closer to family.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to slow down and appreciate the subtle joys of life. Every family has their own tradition, ranging from turkey costumes to written haikus. Ultimately, the diversity of Eastern University’s campus and the community shared here creates a foundation of warmth and connection.
