The holiday season is finally here. What are you most excited about? Delicious food, spending time with family or maybe the gifts? With Thanksgiving coming up fast, Frederick Community College students are gearing up for the holiday in their own ways and celebrating with different traditions.
19-year-old Hannah Flook, a second-year social sciences major, said that “the importance of Thanksgiving is gathering with family… not so much the historical context.”
Each year Flook travels to her grandmother’s house. She said Thanksgiving is mainly a family-only event, but occasionally, people bring their significant others. The most important dish on her family’s table is her grandmother’s special recipe for mashed potatoes. One special tradition for Flook’s family is a Thanksgiving family football game every year. Her most memorable Thanksgiving is when “someone set the kitchen on fire, and 911 was called.”
Carla Ruano, 18, a first-year business major, said she enjoys staying at home and enjoying the holiday with family. Her family’s signature dish is a special bread stuffed with turkey, a signature dish created by her mom. Her most important holiday memory is the last Thanksgiving she celebrated with her parents.
Stephanie Cedillos,18, who is in her first semester as a business major, travels to her aunt’s house every year for a family-only gathering. She enjoys having a separate gathering for her friends or a “Friendsgiving.” Her family’s most important dish is tamales. Cedillos said “they always have a “big party afterwards…my family uses every holiday as a way to throw a big party!” Her favorite memory is the first time her grandparents visited America from Honduras for Thanksgiving.
For Cameron Chang, an 18 -year-old business major in his first year, the best part of Thanksgiving is the food. He specifically mentioned ham is his family’s favorite dish rather than the traditional turkey. Chang noted he only spends the holiday with around 12 family members each year and enjoys traveling to different family members’ homes.
Jevone Ellis,18, a first-year audio production major, said the most important part of Thanksgiving is gathering family and eating pie. He normally travels to Ohio or Michigan to see his family. He looks forward to his family’s recipe for mac and cheese every year. This year, Ellis decided to start a new tradition: hosting a Friendsgiving. He explained they had a party in a barn with friends, food and water balloons. He looks forward to continuing this new tradition.
19-year-old film major Elaina Pollara feels Thanksgiving is a great way to “dedicate time to be grateful for the things you have.” She travels to her grandparents’ house every year, but they rarely serve traditional Thanksgiving dishes. She said if they do have a special meal she enjoys mac and cheese or cornbread the most. Her favorite family tradition is serving cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. Pollara’s family also watches the Macy’s Day Parade every year and recently started watching the National Dog Show, she said, “It’s fun to try and predict the winners with my family.”
