As Thanksgiving break approaches, Oxford is getting ready to celebrate the start of the holidays with family, friends, and food. This season, Patriots display their diverse traditions, exhibiting our community’s various cultures and customs.
Senior Administrative Assistant Marisa Ortega, a dedicated fan of Thanksgiving, hosts “Turkey-Palooza,” a nearly 30-year-old tradition that attracts 40 to 60 people to her home yearly.
“Anyone who doesn’t have a place to go is always welcome at Turkey-Palooza… My dad has always been [a fan of] ‘the more the merrier’” Ms. Ortega said.
Guests enjoy a potluck-style Thanksgiving, with each person bringing their signature dish. Ms. Ortega’s long-standing favorites include her family’s baked beans, potato salad, and dishes from Pioneer Chicken. Before eating, guests gather to snap a group picture, one of the most treasured traditions of the event.
“Everybody knows that you have to be there before we eat to be in the group photo…and it’s a really big thing for them to be in the group photo,” Ms. Ortega said.
Besides savoring delicious food, guests at “Turkey-Palooza” participate in different games. The most competitive is the Bocce Ball, a tournament-style lawn bowling game where the winners receive a cash prize.
“[This year], I’m really thankful for the health of my family, and that we are able to keep on with this tradition…Thanksgiving is a day that everybody just is there, present, and has a great time,” Ms. Ortega said.
Ms. Ortega’s festivities represent Oxford staff, but students also find special ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year, Junior Ava Pitts is celebrating her third annual “Friendsgiving”, a twist on the classical celebration that emphasizes friendship.
“The point of Friendsgiving is to make your meal together… You decide what you want, bring the ingredients…and we cook and make all these meals together until we eventually eat,” Pitts said.
Pitts’ favorite festive foods include ham, pasta salad, and her friend’s spoon bread, which she describes as “cornbread, except a bajillion times better.”
Another unique tradition of Pitts’ Friendsgiving is the exchange of “Turkey Gifts”— a Thanksgiving version of White Elephant, where each gift must be useful for school.
“[This season] I am most thankful for opportunity, just being blessed in general… having the opportunity to have a Friendsgiving…having the opportunity to go to a good school,” Pitts said.
As a younger member of Oxford, 8th grader Allyson Hong celebrates her Thanksgiving by meeting with her aunt and uncle to enjoy both Thanksgiving classics and various Korean dishes.
“We usually have a lot of Korean food, like galbi [beef short ribs], fried chicken, and tteokbokki [rice cakes]. We also eat mashed potatoes and gravy,” Hong said.
After eating, Hong’s family exchanges presents to celebrate Christmas early.
“I’m most grateful for my parents always providing for me when I’m asking [for] something…I know how difficult handling children can be, especially in their teenage years,” Hong said, “I’m grateful that they can manage to try to help me be successful in my choices.”
Whether it’s a close family dinner or a jam-packed potluck, the Patriots find ways to have fun during the holiday season, while also remembering what Thanksgiving is about – demonstrating gratitude for those we love.
