The aroma of turkey and many different pies is common during Thanksgiving. At Gabrielino, Thanksgiving traditions are as diverse as the student body, proving that the holiday is celebrated in many different ways.
For senior Christopher Hernandez, this holiday is a crucial time of family gathering and expressing gratitude. While he celebrates it, Christopher was quick to say that his Thanksgiving is not anything special.
“Yes, my family does celebrate Thanksgiving,” Hernandez said. “It’s a pretty basic one. We have turkey, mac and cheese, and a bunch of other random side dishes.”
Despite describing it as “basic,” he thinks the holiday is about far more than just food. He stated, “I believe the message of Thanksgiving—of saying what you are grateful or thankful for—is a great thing to do, especially with my family.”
One of the most cherished memories that Hernandez had during Thanksgiving is when his whole family gathered at his cousin’s house, shared a nice big meal, and spent the whole day hanging out with his cousins. Hernandez is one example of someone celebrating Thanksgiving while still keeping the original message of being thankful for what you have in life.
Sophomore Janet Ho celebrates similarly to Hernandez. This year, her family is on the road to San Diego to celebrate with relatives. When asked what she will be doing for Thanksgiving this year, she said, “We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year, but instead of at home, we will be going to San Diego.”
For the meal, Ho mentioned, “We usually have turkey and some other side dishes.”
Ho joked that Thanksgiving is “just eating a lot with my family,” but like Hernandez, she still values the meaning behind it. She added, “And you know, the usual things like being grateful for people and everything I have.”
While many students focus on the traditional celebration of Thanksgiving, sophomore Jeremy Chu has a completely different Thanksgiving experience. His family does not celebrate in the traditional sense, but they have created their own annual routine.
“No, I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but instead we usually just go to the beach and spend time together,” Chu said. “My family and I also like to take a run every Thanksgiving in downtown LA. Sometimes, if we pass by someone homeless, we give them a couple of dollars in the spirit of Thanksgiving.”
Even without turkey or a big dinner, Chu still connects deeply to the holiday’s message.
“Even though I don’t do the traditional Thanksgiving,” he explained, “I still enjoy the message of being grateful for different things like my family.”
Whether it is a classic Thanksgiving dinner, a family road trip, or a morning run along the beach, Gabrielino students demonstrate that Thanksgiving looks different for everyone. Yet across all their traditions, one thing remains the same: a focus on appreciation for the people, moments, and memories that shape who they are.
As Chu put it, “That feeling of gratitude is really what makes the day special.”
