Quarantine Story: Why I Celebrate An American Holiday

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂🦃 🥧

Every year when I celebrate Thanksgiving, some friends and family ask me "Why do you celebrate it if you're not American?"I have many reasons why I celebrate it and none have to do with me trying to pass as an American.

Yes, from kindergarten to elementary to secondary school (or elementary til my first year of high school) I did attend an American school in Mexico City; some of my teachers were Americans, they taught us how the pilgrims arrived to america and all the story behind it (which is awful btw).

Specifically one of my teachers, Miss Tiffany, tried to explain the non-religious meaning of giving thanks and being thankful. I didn't understand it back then (20 years ago), giving thanks for me –as a catholic mexican– was a religious thing reserved for Christmas and New Year. So I just watched the Macy's Parade and forgot about everything else.

Fast forward 10 years –I believe it was 2010– to a lovely Canadian summer night, my family and I were visiting some family and friends, enjoying the evening, we're talking about some of the differences between Mexico and Canada –holiday wise– when one of our friends says

"I do like the idea of Thanksgiving" I believe Canada celebrates it in October "That's something Mexico doesn't have. Don't you give thanks?" my Dad, a bit surprised answered "Yes, we do. We go to church every year on December 31st to give thanks before the New Year"

"But that's religious and it's for the year and to ask for a good new year. When do you give thanks for the things that happened over the year, without asking for anything else?"

That's when we realised that we didn't. Since then, we celebrate Thanksgiving with a non-religious dinner, and we give thanks for the things that have happened throughout the year.

I especially love the fact that it's a non religious celebration, opening the door to everyone.

This year we went digital! My family got together for a lovely zoom dinner and games. It was hard not having everyone together but we made it work.

This year I'm thankful for my family's health.

I'm thankful that my company has had a lot of work even with all of 2020's ups and downs.

I'm thankful for the health of my relatives that are still here after falling ill.

I'm thankful for the health of my friends and their families.

These photos are from the past 3 Thanksgivings, ’17, ‘18, and ‘19, first one in Dallas, the last two in NYC.

All rights reserved. Annie "Duvs" Duron. 2020