As most of you probably assumed, they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in South Korea. Santa was finding this hard to believe, “It’s just a day to be thankful. I think it should be a world wide event!” Kitty agreed, but it made her wheels start turning. How did this holiday come about in the first place? If her memory served her right Thanksgiving was when the Indians and pilgrims feasted together and gave thanks for the great harvest, or so that’s what she was taught in the first grade. Kitty drew a picture in her head of a big table with lots of food, both attending parties were sporting big smiles on their faces, while high-fiving over mashed potatoes. Although Kitty was certain this is what happened on that lovely day, her memory was a little foggy, so she decided to phone a friend. Unfortunately her phone has been without service since their relocation to Korea, so Santa was the closest and only resource at her disposal.
As they walked home from school one evening Kitty casually questioned, “Why exactly is Thanksgiving a national holiday? I mean I know it’s important to give thanks, but what really happened that day?” Santa’s eyes grew big, “What? You don’t remember how Christopher Columbus sailed over on the Mayflower, killed almost all the Native Americans and then made the rest cook him Thanksgiving dinner!?” Kitty’s response “Wait what?? I knew Christopher Columbus came over and discovered America, and that he did some terrible things to the Indians, but I had no idea he was involved in this Thanksgiving business?!” Santa reassured her that Christopher was indeed present at the feast and that he had been the ring leader to mass destruction.
Kitty’s head was spinning and she decided she would need to double check and make sure Santa’s history lesson was accurate. Kitty was taught never to use Wikipedia as a credible source but it hasn’t let her down yet so on she read. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted to see, but it was the truth. It turns out that Thanksgiving wasn’t the happy historical event that she remembered, but more along the lines of the story Santa had told her. With one exception, Christopher Columbus wasn’t mentioned in any of the gruesome details. Kitty debated whether to tell Santa or not, but decided it may be a good idea before she started spreading rumors about who was on the guest list to this dinner. They both agreed to be thankful that Americans had started new traditions for this wonderful day.
After the history lesson was sorted out Santa and Kitty moved on to the next dilemma; what they would eat for Thanksgiving dinner? Without turkey (they don’t sell turkey in the stores here in Korea), a stove, or the stove top stuffing mix their options seemed limited. They gathered what they could find from the lotte mart, a near by bakery, and a few things that Kitty had received via mail from her mother, and attempted to create a Korean style Thanksgiving feast.
Thankful that they have a table to eat on unlike most traditional Korean homes
Corn, Macaroni and Cheese, homemade mashed potatoes, salad, dinner rolls from the bakery, and some Korean chicken with rice cakes
It might not look like a feast to some people, but if you could see what Kitty and Santa have been eating it really was. After giving thanks, they ate until they were stuffed, slipped into their stretchy pants, and capped the night off with a good Christmas movie:) It definitely wasn’t the traditional Thanksgiving that they are use to, but it was one to remember. This year they are thankful that they have each other as they continue this adventure, and the fact that they have the opportunity to explore the world. Next year they will certainly just be thankful to be at home spending time with their families! Gobble Gobble
kittyandsanta 