(Photo by Vasilisa Nesterenko)

By Vasilisa Nesterenko | Staff Writer

There are many American things that are unavailable to me as a foreigner. I don’t have an American passport; election day is just a normal day off for me, and my social security card has a strange note on it that marks me as a non-U.S. citizen. Life constantly reminds me: You’re not part of this great nation. Wait patiently, and maybe, if you’re talented and smart enough, one day you may become one of us.

But there is one distinctly American experience that anybody can have. I’m talking about Thanksgiving. This most American holiday shows that belonging here can begin long before citizenship. 

I remember sitting at the Thanksgiving table for the first time. Loads of food, simple and cozy music playing in the background, and tons of family stories being shared. I felt both excited and confused. The vibrant colors of the celebration and the unusual dishes (like the sweet potato casserole) made me wonder back then: What makes Thanksgiving so special for Americans?

My first Thanksgiving dinner. (Photo by Vasilisa Nesterenko)

Think about it: Families all across the country gather together to share a meal and watch TV, just a month before Christmas. Do you really need to consume all those extra calories?

I’m not the only one who doesn’t quite understand it. Thanksgiving seems to be a mystery for many other foreigners as well. Germ Magazine conducted research among readers from different countries to find out what they think about this American holiday. Their article includes the view of Andre from Spain, who said he didn’t really understand Thanksgiving because it isn’t celebrated in his home country. “It seems mostly like a holiday to eat some nice food,” he said. And honestly, I understand him, because I once felt the same way.

While from the outside Thanksgiving may look like a holiday centered on food, it carries deep historical meaning. According to David J. Silverman, tradition of Thanksgiving grew out of harvest celebration, and now is often seen as an early symbol of the American story. Back in 1621, during the Plymouth meal, the Pilgrims gathered to give thanks after surviving their first difficult winter in Massachusetts. Their successful harvest was mostly possible because of the Wampanoag people, who generously taught the newcomers how to grow crops in a new land.

The 1621 gathering was not just a meal. It was a moment of cooperation, gratitude, and mutual respect. The Pilgrims thanked God according to their faith, while the Wampanoag marked the season’s abundance through their own traditions. For me, this spirit of perseverance, and collaboration reflects values that would later shape the identity of America. The hard work of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag’s collaboration is what makes Thanksgiving feel truly American.

A KCC history professor, Keili Nakamura, also shared the perspective of Thanksgiving as a deeply American holiday. She explained to me that the precarious situation of the first settlers on the East Coast shaped Thanksgiving traditions in many ways.

“It’s not necessarily religious,” she said. “We see the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving coming from very humble origins and spreading throughout America.”

No matter where you come from, Thanksgiving is available to everyone. You’re always welcome to share in this breaking of bread and gathering around the table, because America is one of the few nations you don’t have to be born into to belong. Just as the Pilgrims traveled across the ocean seeking a better life, people today can do the same, no matter their background.

And that’s what makes not only Thanksgiving, but the whole country, so appealing and beautiful. Everyone can become part of it if they bring just a little courage and talent.