Thanksgiving: A time of laughter, family, and food for Marymount students

Marymount’s International Thanksgiving Dinner tradition

By: Noelle Larino Photos: Marymount University Flickr

It is that time of year again when students begin counting down the days until the chaos of schoolwork comes to a halt before Finals for Thanksgiving break. On Nov. 23, many students will travel hundreds of miles to be reunited with friends and family in anticipation of a Thanksgiving feast. For many students, the meal is an important aspect of the Thanksgiving holiday. For sophomore student Theresa Buscemi, who travels to her home in Florida every year, the meal is what unites the family.

“Mostly everyone just comes to my house and we have a traditional dinner…my mom usually makes apple pie,” Buscemi said.

In addition to the Thanksgiving meal, each year, students participate in annual traditions with their families. These traditions may include playing sports or games. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also seems to be a popular tradition in many households. Of course for many, at the end of the Parade when Santa Claus comes down the streets of New York with his reindeer, the Christmas season has officially started. In addition to the partaking of traditional Thanksgiving customs, sophomore student Mary Sayegh begins her celebrations of the coming Christmas season.

“Going home for Thanksgiving my favorite tradition is watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade…and I like playing football or watching football. I like wearing Christmas sweaters and listening to Christmas music,” Sayegh said.

For those who could not travel home for the holiday, International Student Services along with Campus Ministry and the International Club hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for the Marymount community on Nov. 17.

The celebration marked the 22 year anniversary of the annual dinner. The meal consisted of traditional and international Thanksgiving foods from Boston Market. During the meal, students enjoyed musical performances from other students and had the opportunity to learn about cultural Thanksgiving customs. This event  gave the Marymount community the opportunity to bond as a family over lively discussion during a good meal.

Thanksgiving above all else is a time to celebrate the gifts of life with friends and loved ones. It is a time to cherish the last days of the vibrant colors of fall in anticipation of the Christmas season to come. For Marymount students who travel to be reunited with their families or who find families here at Marymount to celebrate with, Thanksgiving is a time of laughter, tradition, and of course a good hearty meal.