Holidays and festivals giving thanks and celebrating the abundance of the annual harvest are observed throughout the world. Varied and esoteric, born of indigenous habitats, cultures and customs, the similarities and differences are endlessly fascinating.
If you haven't made plans yet, there is still time. If not this year, then next Thanksgiving, add a little spice to the annual holiday both literally and figuratively
Thanksgiving to most Americans takes the form of gathering around the table with family and friends, offering recognition, appreciation and gratitude for all of life’s blessings while enjoying a hearty meal, accompanied by televised frenetic parades and processions, followed by football and Black Friday shopping extravaganzas.
The dishes on the Thanksgiving menu have meaning, originating from the first recorded feasts. The traditional foods - cranberries, potatoes, corn, and pumpkins - are all native to the Americas. The classic menu of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, seasonal vegetables, cranberry sauce, pies and breads is standard, perhaps introduced by the helpful Native Americans to the sick and malnourished Pilgrims at Plymouth.
Today there are infinitely more options. We can scour the local farmers’ markets and grocery stores for harvest bounty, the internet for culinary ideas, the co-operation of open-minded loved ones and give thanks in a different, modern and perhaps more healthful manner. Cook differently, go international, and even serve food that doesn’t require any cooking at all.
For health-conscious fish fans, a whole baked salmon can effectively take pride of place on the table with all its rich goodness, sensible caloric values and enviable lightness after. The traditional vegetarian side dishes and desserts can still be integral components of the feast.
Those wanting to hark back to the “Old Country” can pay homage to the Limey favorite - Roast Beef, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. Or choose to serve a rack of lamb, steak and kidney pie or a pot roast.
Vegans and vegetarians have literally a cornucopia of choice, and do not have to necessarily settle for the fake tofuturkey.
The imagination can infuse eclectic flavors from around the world: a sun-dried tomato or basil pesto marinated bird, a tandoori turkey, a teriyaki fowl, or a sweet and sour version, can all take center stage on this Thanksgiving Day with a difference.
Just as with food, the social and familial aspects of the holiday can also take on a different form for the adventurous wanting to bring the holiday into the 21st century. And thus relieve the beleaguered host and hostess of much of the stress that often causes so much angst on big family occasions.
Take off for different destinations in pairs, larger groups or the entire tribe. Escape the incipient onset of winter and head for warmer climes. getaway to warm weather beyond U.S. shores in Mexico and the Caribbean. Or if snow slopes are attractive, get in an early start to the season with friends and family.
If travel is not on the cards, look for local hotels and restaurants offering Thanksgiving specials that include dinner, spa treatments, winery tours and outdoor sports. Enjoy a dinner cruise for a non-traditional Thanksgiving.
Attend Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in style. Many hotels lining the route offer packages with upgraded accommodation, seasonal welcome amenities, complimentary refreshments, access to grandstand views of the colorful procession, panoramic views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.
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