Food and Memories

The only thing that comes to mind when discussing traditions and food is Thanksgiving. The general perception is we’re eating a symbolic meal and being thankful. The roots of the tradition come from the Settlers and the Native Americans coming together and sharing food, or a meal. I’ll admit I’m a little fuzzy on the details but I believe the Indians were sharing with the Settlers who were having a hard time providing for themselves. This might be where being thankful came into the mix.

The tradition of Thanksgiving includes having a big meal; the specifics of the holiday and the exact foods that are represented seem less important. Each family has modified the tradition to suit their needs. I’m not even sure turkey was the main dish at the original meeting but they’ve been paying the price ever since.

My parents were separated when I was very young and our extended families all lived far enough away to make holiday’s isolated events for me. I would end up with one of my parents and occasionally we would make the drive to one of our relative’s house. Over the years I’ve seen a number of different combinations when it came to foods on the table and routines during dinner but the consistencies have always been; food, family, and being grateful. The message I took away and hopefully passed on to my children was; share a big meal with those you love, and focus on the good things in life.

I now live in Washington with my wife and three daughters. Our next closest family is in California. We are pretty much and island with the occasional visitor, and now we have our own “traditions.” It starts when we make the shopping list and the trip to the grocery store. My wife does the majority of the cooking, always a big turkey and stuffing, and I do the mashed potatoes and fruit salad. There’s a lot more but it seems to magically appear when it’s time to eat. My girls love pumpkin pie and we usually end up with two as our left-overs are a part of the tradition too. They used to make their own but Costco’s pumpkin pies are too good and have been added as the newest member to our traditional dinner.

We put all the food on the table, say grace, and take turns talking about what we’re thankful for. Sometimes it seems a little forced but we do it anyway; an attempt on my part to keep that part of the tradition alive. I hope my kids will continue that part of the tradition with their families. At the end of the day I often wonder if it’s worth it; the effort and expense in having the big meal. And then I reflect on past Thanksgivings and realize it’s the memories that are important, and the act of eating is just the process that brings us together.