Thanksgiving
is my absolutely favorite holiday. There are so many reasons why I totally love
this event, and I don't care where I live or who I'm with - I'm bound to
celebrate this day with joy, gratitude and excitement.
Celebrating
Thanksgiving in Germany can really be an awesome experience. For me, it always
has been. I love throwing dinner parties, and although they may seem a tad bit
semi-formal at times (although, in my defense, there have only been a few times
where I have actually used seating placements), most of the time, I try to make
them as relaxing and welcoming as possible for all. When I was at the point
where we were 19 people, including 5 children under the age of five, I drew the
limit and decided to keep it between 4 and 10 from now on.
My
husband and I celebrated with friends last year; this year, my parents are
visiting us for the holiday! I'm convinced it's going to be the perfect
American Thanksgiving - we'll celebrate Thursday evening in Germany, and then
fly to London on Friday for the weekend. No better way to remember why the
pilgrims were so thankful in the first place than on British soil.
In
preparation for Thursday's feast, we're taking complete advantage of Germany's
fresh, economical and delicious local markets. We bought 4.5 pounds (2 kg) of
potatoes for a Euro 50! Afterwards, we ordered our turkey from our favorite
poultry butcher, so we'll be able to pick it up early Thursday morning along
with all of the fresh vegetables! Our menu is pretty straightforward, simple,
and best of all, homemade. In addition to the must-have turkey, we'll have
dressing, mashed baked garlic potatoes, salad, almond string beans, traditional
gravy, cheese gravy, macaroni and cheese made with ricotta and three other
cheeses, and cherry pie, muffins, rolls and brownies for breads and desserts.
Yep, I hope that'll do.
It's such
an exhilarating feeling preparing delicious foods and desserts for your family
and friends, sitting at one huge extended table that generally only serves two,
and knowing that the Christmas season is now really about to begin.
Of
course, many people still proclaim that their most favorite holiday is
Christmas; and there are many others who feel as though it is an infringement
on their faith or lack thereof… To be quite honest, it would be quite lovely to
have a holiday that can't be too grossly politicized or commercialized - no
matter how hard many people try. For me, Thanksgiving is that holiday. I love
focusing on the amazing cooking, enjoying the cold weather outside and the
warmth and delicious scents that greet you as soon as you come through the
door. There is a feeling of welcome, and as soon as you arrive, laughter erupts
immediately followed by boisterous conversation, hugs and smiles. You're with
your friends and family, and those few hours - or days if you're fortunate -
are, in my opinion, a wonderful way to get a refill on the energetic goodness
that Life is really all about.
Happy
Thanksgiving with love from Germany!
xoxo CountryEuroCityMouse
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