Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Though it is now December 1, autumn is absent. There is no crispness in the air, no sound of leaves crunching underfoot. The weather is much as it has been since my arrival though November seemed rainier than most months. The trade winds should bring drier air and reduce the humidity but so far they have not come.

Though the weather was not autumnal, the autumn harvest festival we call Thanksgiving occurred in traditional fashion. Frozen turkeys were purchased from the grocery stores, cans of cranberry sauce were opened, stuffing was stuffed, and we sat down to enjoy a festive meal.

Steve and Uta, long term island residents who hail from Ohio and Germany respectively, hosted a potluck dinner at their house for the ex-pat community. It has become tradition and I believe this was the 6th consecutive year they extended their hospitality.

Thanksgiving celebrations on the island extended beyond the ex-pat community. Though they often complain that their culture is being taken away from them (I would use the word ‘given’ not ‘taken’), Micronesians don’t want to miss out on a holiday and my young co-workers have all grown up celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving.
The government closed down at noon on Thursday so that workers could celebrate.

Given the history of Thanksgiving and the competing views of its historical significance(should it be called Thanks-giving or Thanks-taking), I found it amusing that Micronesians choose to celebrate this holiday. In fairness to them, I suppose they are more familiar with the religious overtones and context of the holiday than with its symbolism as the beginning of the end for Native American land rights and culture.