Happy Thanksgiving
As my American friends are celebrating their Thanksgiving, I am celebrating my life and all that I feel grateful for too. Who says we cannot adopt a different country's celebration and tweak it for ourselves?!
Thanksgiving is not originally an Australian or French tradition but it is growing in popularity because being grateful is always in style and worth celebrating. American Thanksgiving is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November.
The Pumpkin and Thanksgiving
If Thanksgiving is not one of your traditions maybe you don't know why the pumpkin is associated with the day? Northeastern Native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins and gave them as gifts to the first settlers and taught them all the different uses for pumpkins.
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Pumpkins are also associated with farming and are a symbol of bountiful harvests. Around this period of autumn and heading into winter they are displayed around the home and garden to remind everyone of plentiful crops and thankfulness for the harvest. Dishes using pumpkins like pumpkin pie are often served at Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving and Being Grateful
To be honest, I often pause and think on what I am grateful for - I find I need to do this to stay grounded in our very busy world. Simply taking a moment with a pretty piece of paper and one of my favourite golden pens, I write down my list of what I'm thankful for. It's is a very worthwhile activity. It feels good and reminds me of the good things - my husband, children, friends, cosy homes and abundant food that I'm continually blessed with.
With the cycles of life and work sometimes taking more out of me than other times, I think remembering that there is a time and season for all things, adds calm and helps me ride through the patches that are more bumpy ... and of course gratitude for what I have and love always helps me through too.
So to round up the Thanksgiving theme, I wish all my American friends a wonderful celebration with their families, and I leave with my list of gratitude:
- Paul, my ever supportive husband who is my number 1 fan in all my endeavours
- My children who have always provided so much joy to their Mamma - even when they were young and cheeky!
- My church community who provide stability, love and purpose as I strive to live a Christian life
- Mum and Dad who always encouraged me with a give-it-a-go attitude and instilled us with bucket loads of confidence
- Karen my sister who is only ever a phone call away
- My Family's French life and all the opportunities that living part-time in France has offered us all - none of us can imagine our life without its French 'chapter'
- You, my wonderful Francophile community of readers, customers and followers who enjoy France with me and send such kind messages
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