“I’m really thankful for the small stuff, like just the way a blanket smells and things like that. … because It seems like people are always trying to make it this big extravagant thing that everyone should be envious of, but it’s really just a lot of small stuff that keeps you going. I’ve had times in my life that were really hard, [and] I’ve learned to appreciate small stuff to keep me going instead of looking for . . . this giant miracle to save me.”

“I’m thankful for all the friends that I have this year and all my family. Things are going pretty well right now and they’re all there for me. It’s by nature [that] humans are social creatures, so if you’re just all alone all the time, [if] you don’t really have friends or family,  you just don’t feel very good, … when you’re surrounded by people who care about you and that you care about, then it just… it makes everything 10 times better.”

Turkey Traditions

“Since my family comes from Scotland, we’ve [eaten haggis] since I was a little kid and … before I was born. It’s just been a thing we do in my family. People don’t like it. They think it’s really gross when they first hear about it, but they’ve never really given it a chance. I would like [to continue the tradition]. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to cook it as good as my mom.”

”I eat chole bhature, which is an Indian dish. It’s kind of like fried bread with yogurt. Some garbanzo beans. It’s really tasty. My family, we’re mostly vegetarian, so we don’t eat turkey. I like it [more than turkey]. It’s just more flavorful.”

The First Thanksgiving

Following the first harvest in October, 1621 is a date commonly called “The First Thanksgiving.” It celebrates the union between the first European pilgrims and the Native Americans. While this was considered a great achievement, it wasn’t quite the cheerful time we now experience in the modern day.

      “The colonists and the Native Americans who are believed to have sat for that first Thanksgiving,” said social studies teacher Todd Zimmerman, “were engaged in a pretty hot dispute for territory surrounding that part of the colonies.” 

     While we celebrate the pilgrims, we forget the impact European settlement had on the Native Americans. 

     “As with most history, you need to understand that there are many points of view, many sides to the story,” Zimmermann explains, “and that if you really want to understand the true meaning of something, you should do a little research.”

     Over the last couple of years though, Thanksgiving has strayed from its original purpose. 

     It’s become much more commercialized. Zimmermann commented. It’s become so, that the original event plays a much smaller part in the festivities. Its not all bad though, he says, it’s made it a lot easier to simply enjoy the event and celebrate it the way you choose. 

    History teacher, Marty Johnston, said it’s important to remember why we celebrate Thanksgiving. “I think it’s just an important time period to step back and look at the things that you really do have, and be thankful for those.” He says. “And then if you are blessed enough to be able to help out and give a hand to some of those who don’t have as much as you do.”

Gobbler Grub

We asked 101 students what their favorite Thanksgiving food was and these are the results.