More than the turkey

Thanksgiving is as much about food as it is about giving thanks: A typical family dinner unfolds with a steaming, stuffed turkey; smooth, fluffy mashed potatoes; thick, creamy gravy; juicy cranberry sauce; and an orange pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. But on some Blazers' tables, there may also be a platter of Ethiopian flatbread called injera, a Chinese honey turkey or a bowl of crispy enchiladas.

Cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and the rest of the traditional Thanksgiving foods have had a place on the Thanksgiving dinner table dating back to the pilgrims and Indians on the first Thanksgiving. But while many of the foods have established a traditional Thanksgiving meal, the ritual has broadened to include the many cultures present in America.

Instead of having turkey, senior Yenikah Fon says he has fried chicken with spices, fried plantains and African fufu, a ground corn starch that is eaten with different vegetables.

For junior Rosa Cruz, the Thanksgiving turkey is accompanied by tortillas, the usual side dish in her Mexican culture. The other American dishes that Cruz's family eats on Thanksgiving are doused with a spicy sauce that consists of tomatoes, hot peppers and other spices. "We basically put our own touch onto things in the meal,” she says.

Besides the turkey, sophomore Margaret Khan also has cultural foods from her native country of Bangladesh. "We have curry and biryani, which is rice with meat that my mom makes with special spices,” Khan says.

For junior Tinny Lee, there is no bird on her Thanksgiving dinner table, only Chinese vegetables, beef, pork and rice—foods that her family usually eats. Nevertheless, her family recognizes the holiday as a time for coming together, giving thanks and "respecting American history,” Lee says.

Junior Vicky Sandoval's family musical festivities are also specific to the annual holiday. Throughout the day of preparation and celebration, her family plays traditional Mexican music called Mariachi. "It is really hyped-up, fast music to get us in the mood for the holiday,” she says of Mariachi, which incorporates trumpets, maracas and some salsa.

Music and dance play a big role in Fon's Cameroonian culture. On Thanksgiving Day, Fon listens to African music called mapuka and ndombolo, which are sung in French and accompanied by drumsets and keyboards. "You shake your body to the rhythm. It's complicated,” Fon says. The dance party accompanies his hearty meal of holiday foods.

Regardless of the type of turkey (or lack thereof) or the annual rituals for celebration, different cultures all converge to pay tribute and reflect "on the blessings of our lives,” senior Andrew Beach says.

For junior Avilia Flores, these blessings deserve more than a once-a-year tribute. "[My family is] very grateful because they have gotten a lot out of the country,” she says. "It really is a reminder to be thankful every day.”