A Fusion Thanksgiving

by Sonali Bhargava

Speaking from the perspective of a third-generation immigrant, one could say my family is well-established in the United States. With at least three generations from every lineage of our family here in America, Thanksgiving is always a conglomeration of both American and South Asian traditions. The sheer number of family members coupled with everyone’s Thanksgiving wishes makes the holiday memorable each year. 

In my family, Thanksgiving rotates between three houses. My house, my mom’s sister (Moushe’s house), and their best friend’s house each take turns since almost everyone else who attends our Thanksgiving is either too old or too young to host. The audience generally consists of 50% elderly individuals over the age of 65 (who each year exclaim that all of the children are “so old!” as we struggle to remember everyone’s names), 45% cousins and their middle-aged parents, and then the rest, a few random newlywed couples who make an appearance. The evening does not vary too much depending on who is hosting that year, although, for my brother and me, it does determine which portions of the Thanksgiving parade we watch, depending on how far we have to commute.

As expected, food is the main event for our fusion Thanksgiving. After hours of parental cooking (while watching both football and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade) and anyone around my age babysitting, we all settle in to eat our combination meal of Thanksgiving and Indian food. Of course, tables are always separated by age. For the American side, there is always the traditional turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, etc. But on top of this food, there is always a plethora of experimental food the grandmas have conjured up - including ladoos and bhindi. Following dinner, everyone continues to snack on the food while a movie generally plays in the background. This is my favorite part of the evening - where all the mingling and catching up from the year occurs. Now that I am in college, this time is especially important to me, as it is one of the few times I see extended family throughout the year.

Thanksgiving to our large, South Asian family, is rich in meaning. For my grandparents, it symbolizes the act of “making it in America.” Each year, my grandfather, or Abo, tells the children (many times, if I might add) how to him, “America is heaven on Earth.” Now, having grown up here, my cousins, siblings, and I know that is not true - we have firsthand witnessed the flaws built into the “American experience.” However, for my grandparents, the success they have achieved in this country feels immense. Growing up in poverty in India, their one-story suburban home feels like a mansion to them. As the years pass and my family becomes more and more ingrained in American culture, it becomes increasingly important for us to retain our culture and traditions in spaces where the whole family gathers. Thus, Thanksgiving not only serves as a reminder of the opportunity this country has given my family but solidifies our roots as well.