RILEY RAINS / CONTRIBUTOR

Thanksgiving at the University of San Diego is anything but ordinary. While some may envision the quintessential Thanksgiving as a feast of perfectly roasted turkey and pumpkin pie with a side of awkward small talk, USD students bring their own refreshing twist to this classic narrative. Although Thanksgiving has been celebrated for over 400 years, USD students have found their own unique ways to celebrate the holiday. 

Thanksgiving traces its origins to a harvest celebration held by the Wampanoag Native Americans. The original feast featured turkey, geese, seafood and a variety of vegetables. When the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, the Wampanoag generously shared their harvest as a way to ensure mutual protection between the Native Americans and settlers, unexpectedly creating a gathering that has come to symbolize gratitude. While the history of Thanksgiving has been retold and changed throughout generations. The national  holiday  has moved away from remembering the Pilgrims to instead celebrating the things that Americans  are thankful for. Today, families across the country continue to adapt  and  reinterpret  the  holiday to suit their own traditions, and USD students are no exception.

Some students skip the traditional turkey dinner altogether, opting instead for a feast that’s as unique as it is tasty. USD senior Rose Seaver shared her family’s unconventional holiday  tradition. 

“My parents are really bad at cooking, so for every Thanksgiving, we order takeout,” Seaver said. “We normally just get Chinese food. It’s really fun because it isn’t traditional.” 

While some students feast on takeout, others indulge in their native country’s cuisine. USD senior Santiago Arenas explained how he spends the five day weekend. 

“I am from Spain, so [my family  and I] don’t really celebrate [Thanksgiving],” Arenas said. “But  I travel somewhere where we can all meet up  and  have a nice dinner and a nice time together. It is always good to see my family.” 

For Arenas, the essence of Thanksgiving   isn’t   tied to  the food  on   the  table,  but  to the people   around   it,  no  matter  where   he  is. Traveling  is a common theme during the holidays. USD first-year Maeve Vollmer perfectly embodies    this    adventurous  spirit. 

“I’m an only child, and my parents and I usually don’t do Thanksgiving with the whole family,” Vollmer said. “We like to go on trips. Like this year, we are  going  to New Orleans. For us, Thanksgiving is spending time  together as a family, and our   home is  wherever we  are, not a physical  place.  One  thing  we don’t   change  is   we  do  make  food.  My  dad  is  an  amazing  chef.  One  year  in  Spain, we accidentally bought a girl turkey which is about the size of your hand. He still made an amazing meal.” 

Vollmer’s tradition redefines the concept of home. For her, Thanksgiving is about shared experiences, whether they’re exploring new places or savoring regional cuisine. 

While Vollmer travels to wherever the wind takes her, USD sophomore Edie Rudisile has one destination in mind: the “happiest place on Earth.” Edie Rudisile shared her unique family tradition.

“We  go  to Disney  World  every year,” Rudisile said. “It’s always fun because not a lot of families  are there, and we get to go  on  all  the rides. I love spending it with  my   family. Disney’s  food  is  good,  and  it’s just  great to get  into  [the]  Disney spirit around Thanksgiving.  [Disney  festivities] get you ready for Christmas.”

While  most  families  are busy   wrestling  with  gravy boats,  Rudisile’s  family is zipping  through  Space Mountain. However, some students prefer a more classic approach to the holiday. USD junior Emma-Kate Squires shared her three day holiday tradition. 

“I’m from Kansas, and Thanksgiving is always a big thing there,” Squires said. “It is a three-day celebration for us. The first day is a soup night with my extended family and second cousins. The second night  is  a  proper  Thanksgiving dinner,  and we  are  together  the whole day, including breakfast. The third day is the beginning of Christmas celebrations.” 

Squires’   Thanksgiving  blends   time-honored   rituals with a touch of Southern hospitality, making the holiday a true marathon  of   festivity.  Christmas for  the  Squires  even  begins with  the last slice of pumpkin pie. 

Another pumpkin pie lover, USD sophomore Charles Jahn, looks forward to seeing the joy  in  his  family’s faces during this beloved holiday. To him, the simple and long lasting traditions are the most fun.  

“We usually have a tradition of breaking the wishbone for younger    kids  in  our  family,” Jahn said. “It  is  fun  to  look  forward to  near the  end of our celebration. I   also enjoy the classic desserts like pumpkin pie.” 

Jahn enjoys  the  youthful spirit during holidays, while Vollmer and Rusidile look forward to traveling.   

Thanksgiving at USD is not defined  by   any  single  tradition; instead, families indulge in a range of   activities.  From Chinese  takeout  to  Disneyland,  friends  and  families  will  be  gathering to share gratitude and make memories this Thanksgiving-break. Being surrounded by the ones you love is the root  of  Thanksgiving, but the stuffing doesn’t hurt.

Thanksgiving traditions vary amongst different families, with some opting for more traditional meals including turkey and cranberry sauce. Photo courtesy of @ilsognoitaliansd_/Instagram