The holiday of Thanksgiving was observed by AHS today. Thanksgiving marks a day of giving thanks for the things one has in life; from one’s possessions to their families, as well as everything in between.
Although predominantly a North American holiday, the diversity of AHS was reflected by how some students celebrated their Thanksgiving. The family of senior Ayat Elhag was able to incorporate their culture into a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by modifying several items on their menu.
“We have a big dinner at my house that mixes both the tradition and Arab dinner,” Elhag said. “We have a turkey but we stuff it with rice instead of stuffing and we have Arab side dishes.”
Many students at AHS took advantage of the short holiday from school to spend time with their friends and families. Sophomore Peter Baek was able to celebrate his Thanksgiving by visiting his family in another state.
“I got to see my family in New Jersey, and my uncle who is a chef, cooked turkey for us,” Baek said.
Other traditions include participating in races called “turkey trots,” watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and numerous football games throughout the day.
Regardless of how one chooses to spend their time, Thanksgiving offers them a day of refuge from their hectic lifestyles to ponder about things that may often times be overlooked.
“My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is being able to express my gratitude for what I have and those close to me,” junior Amelie Trieu said.
Tomorrow, many will have to return to the chaos of their jobs, or the Black Friday crowd, but today, gratitude still remains the main focus for many; 119 years since the day’s inception as national holiday.
