Thanksgiving has always been one of those holidays I understood more in theory than in practice. My family never made a big deal out of it, partly because it never seemed worth the effort to prepare a full feast for just the three of us.
I knew the classic images everyone else grew up with: turkey carved at the head of the table, pumpkin pie cooling on the counter, and relatives squeezed together in a warm living room. But as someone who didn’t grow up deeply rooted in the tradition, the emotional weight of the holiday sometimes felt distant. Last year, though, I stumbled into a version of Thanksgiving that made the whole idea feel real and meaningful.
A member of my church invited me to their Thanksgiving dinner. Though I attend a Korean church, I expected the typical American setup, complete with stuffing, football, and the usual uncomfortable questions about my romantic life and academic plans. What I didn’t expect was a room full of international students from Tufts, who had been invited so they could experience the holiday.
Their conversations captured the true purpose of Thanksgiving: taking part in a shared experience. They talked about school, the one professor they all seemed to dislike, and what it was like studying in the U.S. There was no pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday. Instead, it was simply a group of people who were far from home and family, finding a sense of warmth in each other’s company.
There was also something quietly powerful about seeing Korean food next to mashed potatoes and turkey. At first, it was almost funny to see kimchi alongside the turkey and cranberry sauce. But somehow, it didn’t feel out of place. It felt like it had always been part of the Thanksgiving table. It reminded me that Thanksgiving does not have to be the same menu repeated every year, like you see in the movies. It can be a place to try new things. It can be a moment where different cultures share a table and create something unique together, where the food evolves, blending old traditions with new stories and new people.
This year, instead of eating the same things from last year, why don’t we try something new? Add a dish from a different part of the world, invite someone who is far from home, and make the holiday truly unique.
Especially in an age when people don’t always make room for others, using this holiday season as an opportunity to express gratitude, happiness or genuine pleasure can go a long way. And who knows, maybe you’ll learn something new or even try foods you can’t pronounce.
People sometimes ask me if I fully understand Thanksgiving now. My answer is still no. But maybe that’s the point. I think Thanksgiving is something you experience differently every year, shaped by the people who show up and the food they bring. And honestly, I think I like it better that way.
