Thanksgiving is an American holiday meant for us to reflect on what we have to be thankful for.  Most people spend the day with their families and have a large feast for dinner.  The typical American Thanksgiving dinner is thought of as one with turkey or ham, corn bread muffins, cranberry sauce, and pies for dessert.  But seeing as America is known as a melting pot, there is no longer a typical American way to celebrate.

We are fortunate enough to live in one of the most diverse communities in Illinois.  Within our school district there are over 78 languages are spoken among the students, representing various cultures found throughout the world. Thus, when students were asked about their Thanksgiving traditions, the answers varied. Here are how some members of North Star, who represent only a small portion of the diversity at Niles North, spend their Thanksgiving.

Adam Odicho, senior,  spends his Thanksgiving with about 25 of his family members from his father’s side of the family.  He sleeps until about 10 in the morning, and spends the rest of the day helping his mother.  His job is to pick up food from family members’ houses and bring the food to whoever is hosting the meal.  Adam’s favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving is dolma. He describes dolma as rice with meat wrapped in grape leaves.  Many other foods at his family’s table reflect his Assyrian culture.  After dinner, he and his cousins go Black Friday shopping. He usually drives because he does not trust their driving.

The Thanksgiving meal is generally hosted by Senior Mandy Aragon and her family.  She wakes up in the morning and spends a good portion of her day cleaning the house in preparation for the arrival of her father’s side of the family.  The food served at the dinner table represents her Guatemalan heritage. Some favorites are the traditional American foods: turkey, ham, and potatoes, while others reflect their culture: cream and noodles, taquitos and hilachas. Taquitos are fried tortillas rolled with meat inside, and hilachas are beef and potatoes in red sauce.  Dessert options include cheese cake, apple pie and pumpkin pie.  After dinner, her family watches football and she goes Black Friday shopping with her cousins just for the fun of it.

Alex Burbules, junior, also spends Thanksgiving with her father’s side of the family.  For her, Thanksgiving is nothing too special.  Since her family doesn’t host the meal, she sleeps late.  When she arrives for dinner, always late, she joins her family and pretends to watch football with them.  A typical Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and spanakopita- a Greek spinach pie.  Among the amazing desserts, her aunt makes a layered dessert of Oreos and whipped cream.

So whether you eat turkey, go Black Friday shopping, or none of the above, be sure to enjoy celebrating this Thanksgiving with your family, honoring your family traditions.

Happy Thanksgiving Niles North!