Meeting at my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving was something of a tradition in our family. Our fathers would gather together and watch football, fists shaking and voices echoing throughout the entire house. Our mothers and Grandmother would crowd around the tiny white table in the kitchen and exchange stories, not that they would ever admit that they were actually gossiping. This left all of us, the kids, to entertain ourselves until dinner. The basement was our preferred location to gather, as it had a fireplace that kept it toasty and there were three couches for us to take apart and use for pillow forts. The fall of 2007 dawned chilly and crisp, and stayed that way. The wind whistled through the thick forest that surrounded the house, …show more content…
We haven’t built one of those this year,” My brother Spencer suggested with a grin. “It’s too cold out for that. Besides, the leaves are soaking wet from the rain earlier today,” I said. A chorus of sighs followed every failed idea, and the lure of the television was starting to overpower our desire for entertainment. I glanced around the room once more, and my eyes fell upon the fireplace. The flames within it danced merrily, flickering and swirling like some kind of exotic dance. It was hypnotizing, and I spent several seconds staring blankly at the fire. All of a sudden, an idea hit me. My lips curled with a mischievous grin, and I could feel a laugh bubbling up in my throat. “Hey Austin,” I began, looking at him from the corner of my eye, “I dare you to toss some paper into the fireplace!” He slowly turned to look at me, suspicion written all over his face. He looked at the stack of copy paper resting conveniently on a nearby table, then at my wicked grin, then back at the paper. “I don’t know about this, I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Austin stammered, staring at his sister and silently begging her for help. “I agree, this won’t end well,” Rebecca finally chimed in after letting Austin fret for a few …show more content…
You’re too chicken to do it! That’s alright, I wouldn’t want to scare you.” My words had the desired effect, and Austin’s face quickly grew red. Flustered, he muttered for a few seconds before surging to his feet. He stormed over to the stack of paper and snagged a few pieces of paper. We all watched in silence as he approached the fireplace and threw the paper in. Suddenly, the flames leapt up and grew twice as large. When before the fire seemed cozy and inviting, it now looked sinister and terrifying, and the center turned into bright, alarming shade of blue. Shrieks rang through the room, and I lept up from my spot on the floor. Austin stumbled back in shock, and we looked at each other for a moment before sprinting to the staircase. The fire crackled and roared like a lion as it devoured the pieces of paper, and we knew we had made a terrible
The first Thanksgiving was believed to be a feast after the first harvest; The Native American Wapanog tribe taught the first settlers to cultivate vital crops and sustain off the land1. Thanksgiving is an American holiday that values this union and cooperation between immigrant groups; the term “Native Americans” designates the very first immigrants2. The influx of immigrants gave birth, shaped, and developed American society. But immigrant groups, in modern context, have been politically and socially exploited. This may not have been as extreme as colonization, slavery, or exclusion, but a more discreet and covertly nativist ideology exists up to today: the fear of the rising immigrant population demoting White-Americans to a minority3.The view that immigrants were detrimental to society was expressed in the publication of many historical political cartoons. Thomas Nast and G.F. Keller both express their views that condemn and support this xenophobic culture, respectively; Nast utilized labeling while Keller, irony. The use of the analogy of Thanksgiving, in addition to other techniques, expresses the differing views on immigrants, and whether or
There were a couple of my peers that said they went to someone's house or something of the sort. Someone didn’t have any family over and they just stayed home with their immediate family. A couple of my peers said that they went out of state for Thanksgiving. A lot of my peers said that they went to a family member's or friend’s house.
The crisp, cool, and cinnamon air filled the morning of Thanksgiving in 1987. Although I was only two years and eleven months old, I remember the scratchy, fuzzy, purple- footed pajamas that I was wearing that morning. After I woke up, I "helped" my mom make her famous orange- cranberry relish, got dressed in my cream sweater dotted with cherries and my navy pleated skirt, topped off with my favorite cream fuzz- warn tights, and before I knew it we were out the door to my grandmother's house. After an early dinner with my grandparents, mom, and dad, my grandfather and dad left to catch the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day football game, leaving the rest of us to find entertainment of our own.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that began hundreds of years ago. It was a celebration of many different things. One of the most important reasons for the celebration was thankfulness that many of the Pilgrims survived the first year of their new lives in America. Today, however, Thanksgiving seems to have a very different meaning to people. Their main focus is not being thankful for the things they have, but wanting more.
Every family has their own unique way of spending time together with loved ones only seen during the holidays. In the Stock home, there is only one thing we enjoy doing. Sure, like every other family we have our grand and elaborate dinner, which is composed of all the greatest delicacies my mother and grandmother can whip up. Of course, as is expected, after stuffing ourselves as if this was our last meal the men in the family congregate in the living room. We sit and wait for our tradition to begin by discussing how each of our lives has been unfolding since last Thanksgiving. Finally, the moment arrives, kick off of the first of many Thanksgiving Day football games. There are thousands of fans who watch football with religious devotion. At the Stock house that is not the case. However on Thanksgiving, our eyes glaze over and we rise to the highest of football enthusiasts.
Thanksgiving is undoubtedly a holiday to celebrate family. It also celebrates many other things, as the name suggests. Thanksgiving is a holiday to give thanks for the things that a person has rather than to wish for more things. Accomplishments and shiny cars are not part of the essence of Thanksgiving, as these do not have the inherent humbleness expected of the holiday. This air of humility and frugality, harkening back to the days of the pilgrims and Native Americans, is probably what lead Ellen Goodman to describe the holiday as a suppressing of individualism. However, the rift between individuality and family that Goodman describes in Thanksgiving is not as deep as she makes it seem, and Thanksgiving Day is hardly the only day of the
The wind fanned the fire, and the cottage was quickly enveloped by the flames, which clung to it and licked it with their forked and destroying tongues. (Shelley 149). The
"What is that?" Alex asked as he was looking at the stairwell. I left the kitchen and went around the corner to see what was going on. I saw what Alex was pointing at and walked up a couple of steps to see what it was. A few seconds later, a look of horror appeared on my face.
Pop listened with sweet eyes and wisdom in his expression. He let Bryn settle for a moment, and they fell into silence. The fire fizzed and hissed behind Bryn, and his shadow spread over the table and crept up over Pop’s chest and neck, partially shielding him from the warm light. Pop considered his response carefully, dipping his chin into the shadow, and when he was ready, he lifted his gaze to Bryn and the fire reflected sharply in his pupils as if it were a part of his eyes.
The purpose of Thanksgiving in Canada is different from the Americans. But even though the reasons for giving thanks are different, many of the customs are the same. Canadian Thanksgiving was originally started to give thanks to God for a bountiful harvest. This was when there were lots of farmers that grew crops. Now we give thanks for everything we appreciate. Some farming families still give thanks for a good crop.
The familiar smell of soft cookies and homemade cooking are common thoughts when people think about their grandma's house. Great feasts and family gatherings play a part in everyone's grandmother's home. But when I really think about my grandma's house only one word comes to my mind: fun.
We now headed for our ‘Cabin’. The Cabin was a small clearing in a patch of trees. This provided us with ample space to play, and gave us the seclusion and privacy which acts of mischief required. We gathered the necessary materials and headed for Ben’s house. What possessed us to play with fire in the basement of his house, I cannot fathom.
Sometimes you need to be patient to start a conversation with someone who is elder or younger than you. And I can guarantee that you would be amazed. In 2/4/2015 I conduct this interview with my grandmother and I’ve learned a lot about my grandmother since grandparents are the link to our past. Grandparents are there to teach us life lessons and offer unconditional love. I’m blessed to have such a wonderful and strong grandmother. People who still have their both grandparents alive are lucky. My grandmother Fatmah add such a great amount of joy to my life because of her warm heart. Specially, when I'm sad I just find comfort by visiting her and to me she is irreplaceable. This interview was done to explore the life of my grandmother had
The sunless sky covered the woods over the treetops which created a canopy over my head. The crimson and auburn foliage was a magnificent sight, as this was the season known as Fall. There was a gentle breeze, creating the single sound of rustling leaves. The leaves appeared as though they were dying to fall out of the tree and join their companions on the forest floor. Together with pine needles and other flora the leaves formed a thick springy carpet for me to walk upon.
It was late summer. The weather was gradually changing to autumn, which was noticeably seen on the leaves that were starting to turn orange. The sun was out, but it wasn’t too hot or too cold outside. In fact, it was actually soothing; the cold wind blowing, paired with the warm sun shining above.