Thanksgiving is an important holiday and tradition to most, if not all American citizens. Not only does Thanksgiving bring families together, but it also represents gratitude in the American people for what we have.
Thanksgiving’s origins lie in 1621, at a harvest feast shared between the English colonists and the Native Americans, or more specifically, the Wampanoag people. However, Thanksgiving as a national holiday started only around 160 years ago in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln established the last Thursday in Nov. as a day to give thanks.
Later, in 1941, Thanksgiving was officially set on the fourth Thursday of Nov. by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Thanksgiving, although it has lost some of its historical significance today, is still nonetheless celebrated throughout America.
However, no matter how historically significant or emotionally uplifting this holiday can be, it is definitely enjoyed most for the food. Traditionally, families or communities would all sit and eat a grand feast together, with turkey as the main dish.
In modern times, we’re not so picky with what we eat for the main meal on Thanksgiving. Many people substitute the turkey for another type of meat, such as ham or chicken, maybe even tofu. Nonetheless, turkey is still the national favorite, or at least the school-wide favorite.
According to a poll set up on Instagram, about 63% of students voted turkey as the best main dish for Thanksgiving dinner. This is followed by chicken at 21%, and ham at around 16% of students.
The main dish, however, is just the beginning of the Thanksgiving dish list. While the main dish is undoubtedly great, the true best part lies within the many side dishes. After all, there can’t be a feast without side dishes.
There are a myriad of possible side dishes that can be seen during Thanksgiving. Some such side dishes include: green beans, casserole, gravy, cranberry sauce and many, many more. However, it is a well-known fact that everyone has their favorites.
When it comes to favorites of anything, there are always a multitude of differing opinions; however, there’s always one that is voted more than the others. In this case, the Aliso Niguel students seem to lean towards mashed potatoes.
Other frequent favorites include: mac and cheese, stuffing and gravy. Some even said pie was their favorite side dish for Thanksgiving, perhaps both sweet and savory.
On the subject of pie, it is also a great option for dessert, with many options for flavors. Some of the more popular flavors for Thanksgiving include: pumpkin pie, pecan pie and apple pie. Pumpkin pie is a popular dessert on Thanksgiving for its autumnal aroma and flavor; it is certainly aesthetically pleasing at this time of year, at the least. Some families may even add a touch of ice cream to their pies for something extra.
However, pie is just one of the many dessert options on Thanksgiving. Many families prefer to celebrate with an ice cream cake, brownies or cookies instead of the traditional pie.
In the end, the most important part of Thanksgiving isn’t simply following traditions or cultural norms. Instead, focus on being happy and fulfilled in your own special way with your family and friends and eating to your heart’s content.
