Thanksgiving has always held a special place in my heart, even though I didn’t grow up celebrating it in the Philippines. It’s not a holiday we observe there, but after moving to the U.S., I quickly realized how central it is to American culture. What made it even more special for me was sharing this uniquely American holiday with my international friends, each bringing their own stories, traditions, and flavors to the table. Coming from the Philippines, where hospitality and gatherings are a big part of life, Thanksgiving felt familiar in a way—but celebrating it with friends from Ukraine, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Germany gave it a completely new meaning.
When I think about Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of the warmth of shared meals and the spirit of gratitude. But celebrating it with friends from different corners of the world makes the experience even richer. It’s like blending cultures together, where we not only learn about the American tradition but also appreciate the beauty of diversity.
A New Tradition for Someone from the Philippines
Growing up in the Philippines, we had plenty of our own holidays centered around family and food, but Thanksgiving wasn’t one of them. The concept of a holiday focused solely on gratitude and sharing a meal was something I embraced after moving to the U.S. I remember the first time I hosted a Thanksgiving dinner—honestly, I was nervous! Preparing a turkey seemed daunting, and I wanted to honor the holiday’s traditions. But more than that, I wanted to create a space where my friends and I, coming from so many different backgrounds, could come together and celebrate something meaningful.
In Filipino culture, family gatherings are loud, joyous, and always filled with food—especially dishes like adobo, lumpia, and pancit. While Thanksgiving doesn’t involve our traditional Filipino dishes, I realized that the core idea of gathering around a meal, sharing stories, and expressing gratitude was something that resonated deeply with me. It wasn’t so different after all.
Sharing Thanksgiving with Friends from Around the World
What really makes Thanksgiving with international friends so special is the way each of us brings a piece of home to the celebration. My friend from Ukraine, for instance, brings stories of family feasts, often reminding me of how important food and family are across cultures. One year, she brought borscht, a traditional Ukrainian beet soup, and it fit perfectly next to the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Sharing that dish was a beautiful way of connecting her culture with the Thanksgiving table.
My friend from Brazil introduced us to pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), and I’ll never forget how it quickly became a favorite at the table. The crispy, cheesy bites were unlike anything you’d find at a typical American Thanksgiving, yet they felt right at home among the more traditional turkey and stuffing. It was a reminder that food is universal and that every dish, whether new or familiar, carries with it a story of tradition, love, and home.
My Costa Rican friend, always bringing a vibrant energy to our gatherings, taught us about their family’s traditions and brought gallo pinto, a traditional dish made of rice and beans. The flavors of Costa Rica added a new depth to the Thanksgiving table. I loved how the simplicity of gallo pinto carried a powerful message about comfort food and the bonds we create over a meal.
One of the most interesting conversations I’ve had was with my friend from Germany. While Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated there, she shared with us her experiences of Erntedankfest, the German harvest festival. It’s celebrated similarly, with an emphasis on giving thanks for a successful harvest, but it has its own unique customs. Having her at our Thanksgiving table allowed us to reflect on how different countries, in their own way, celebrate gratitude for the earth’s bounty. She often brings pretzels or spaetzle to our meal, adding a distinctly German flavor to our otherwise American-centric feast.
The Magic of Bringing Cultures Together
What makes these gatherings even more magical is the conversation. We don’t just share food—we share our lives. We talk about what Thanksgiving means to each of us, from the perspective of someone who didn’t grow up with the holiday. My Ukrainian friend talks about the importance of resilience and family, especially in difficult times. My Brazilian friend shares stories of celebration and joy, and how their holidays back home are filled with music, laughter, and community. These conversations often remind me of why Thanksgiving is so special—it’s not just about the food, but about the people you share it with.
Celebrating Thanksgiving with international friends teaches me new ways of being thankful. It reminds me that gratitude is universal, even if the ways we express it are different. It’s also a beautiful reminder of how food connects us, no matter where we come from. Whether it’s the familiar taste of roasted turkey or the new flavors of pão de queijo or borscht, every dish at our table tells a story. It’s a story of home, of tradition, and of the journey we’ve all taken to be here together.
A New Kind of Family
For me, my international friends have become my family away from home. As someone from the Philippines, being away from my relatives during the holidays can be hard, but Thanksgiving has become a time where I can create new memories with the people I care about. My friends and I may come from different countries, but when we sit around the Thanksgiving table, it feels like we’re all part of something bigger—a community built on respect, friendship, and shared experiences.
Thanksgiving is about more than just American history for us. It’s about celebrating the present and being grateful for the friendships we’ve formed. It’s a holiday where I can feel at home, even if I’m thousands of miles away from the Philippines. And by blending our cultures and traditions, we’ve created something unique—our own version of Thanksgiving, one that’s filled with flavors and stories from around the world.
In the end, what makes celebrating Thanksgiving with international friends so special is that it’s more than just a holiday—it’s a celebration of who we are, where we come from, and the gratitude we share for being together, no matter the distance from our homelands.
