Po-po, my maternal grandmother, believed being together as a family was of upmost importance. So, my mom, along with any of her nine siblings that resided in the Portland area, would respect her with coordinating these large family gatherings on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
These go-togethers, where the group size has ranged from 25 to 75 people, have taken place ever since I can remember. These weren't elaborate affairs with people dressing up, decorations or party games. It was just family getting together.
Each year, a different family will host the lunch-time feast. The host family usually provides the main course, like the turkey and ham, and everyone else will bring an array of Chinese and the traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, desserts, appetizers, and bread. (I still remember the smell of the fresh bread my aunt #8 would make. Yum!) There was so much food, where no one can possibly leave hungry.
After the clean-up, my grandma and the adults will go off to someone’s house to play mahjong and the kids will head to the movies or to the bowling alley. When the movie or bowling ended, we headed back to wherever the leftovers ended up at and hang out until our parents finished playing to drive us home. That was pretty much Thanksgiving growing up. (And Christmas, but with presents!)
When my cousins and I were younger and smaller, we could all fit into someone’s house. It was a little cozy, but we managed. As we got bigger in size and in number, the host family still rotates, but it was held at one of my relatives’ restaurant banquet rooms. With the change of atmosphere, it didn’t change the meaning of Thanksgiving for me—family.
Thanksgiving was a time to hang out with my cousins and the one of two times I get to watch a movie in a theater growing up. (Christmas was the other time.) Living away from home in college, Thanksgiving was a time to bring my friends back and show them how proud I was of my large, extended family—all 50+ of them!
Now as an adult, Thanksgiving has almost become like a race to greet everybody before we got separated into different part of the banquet room when the feast began, the young children starts to cry, and families take off for another Thanksgiving meal. Nevertheless, it's always good to see everybody again.
With the passing of my grandmother a couple of years ago, the idea of these big family gatherings was tested as they have become a logistical nightmare for families with children and in-laws, and as meaningful conversations were harder to have as significant others, children and grandchildren compete for my aunts, uncles and cousins’ attention. However, I'm glad my family has worked it out and continues to honor my grandmother’s memory and wish.
It may be inevitable these huge family gatherings become a distant memory with my generation, but this feeling has only made me treasure the time spent with my huge family even more. Like every family, it has its moments, but I’m thankful for every member.
So, no matter how small or big your family may be, or how low-key or crazy your holiday gatherings are, I wish you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
These go-togethers, where the group size has ranged from 25 to 75 people, have taken place ever since I can remember. These weren't elaborate affairs with people dressing up, decorations or party games. It was just family getting together.
Each year, a different family will host the lunch-time feast. The host family usually provides the main course, like the turkey and ham, and everyone else will bring an array of Chinese and the traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, desserts, appetizers, and bread. (I still remember the smell of the fresh bread my aunt #8 would make. Yum!) There was so much food, where no one can possibly leave hungry.
After the clean-up, my grandma and the adults will go off to someone’s house to play mahjong and the kids will head to the movies or to the bowling alley. When the movie or bowling ended, we headed back to wherever the leftovers ended up at and hang out until our parents finished playing to drive us home. That was pretty much Thanksgiving growing up. (And Christmas, but with presents!)
When my cousins and I were younger and smaller, we could all fit into someone’s house. It was a little cozy, but we managed. As we got bigger in size and in number, the host family still rotates, but it was held at one of my relatives’ restaurant banquet rooms. With the change of atmosphere, it didn’t change the meaning of Thanksgiving for me—family.
Thanksgiving was a time to hang out with my cousins and the one of two times I get to watch a movie in a theater growing up. (Christmas was the other time.) Living away from home in college, Thanksgiving was a time to bring my friends back and show them how proud I was of my large, extended family—all 50+ of them!
Now as an adult, Thanksgiving has almost become like a race to greet everybody before we got separated into different part of the banquet room when the feast began, the young children starts to cry, and families take off for another Thanksgiving meal. Nevertheless, it's always good to see everybody again.
With the passing of my grandmother a couple of years ago, the idea of these big family gatherings was tested as they have become a logistical nightmare for families with children and in-laws, and as meaningful conversations were harder to have as significant others, children and grandchildren compete for my aunts, uncles and cousins’ attention. However, I'm glad my family has worked it out and continues to honor my grandmother’s memory and wish.
It may be inevitable these huge family gatherings become a distant memory with my generation, but this feeling has only made me treasure the time spent with my huge family even more. Like every family, it has its moments, but I’m thankful for every member.
So, no matter how small or big your family may be, or how low-key or crazy your holiday gatherings are, I wish you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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