Thanksgiving, with Spanish Characteristics

“You eat a whole turkey?”

“Well no, I don’t eat the whole turkey.  But yes, we cook one.”

“It’s just like in all the movies!”

Conversing with a Spaniard about Thanksgiving usually ends with some sort of comment like this (other topics many people think only exist in the movies: prom, Easter egg hunts, campfires…).  Needless to say, Thanksgiving is not an American holiday that is well known in Spain.  I went to work, gave two of my classes a pilgrim-themed word search, and felt generally alone as I thought about my entire family convening for my favorite meal of the year.  Luckily, I have American friends here with similar sentiments, so Thursday evening I hopped on a bus to Cabra, Córdoba to have an expat Thanksgiving feast.

Cabra is a village in the province of Córdoba that’s about an hour and a half bus ride from where I live.  I took the bus with my friends Kerry and Alex who both had arrived to Córdoba by train earlier that day.  We arrived at Jess’ amazing piso in Cabra late that evening.  After Skyping with our families to wish them a happy Thanksgiving (and be jealous of the food that was paraded in front of us, thanks mom), we went to bed early in preparation of our feast to come.

weary travelers and our gracious hostess

The next morning, we went to collect Kels and Keely from the bus station, but were devastated to find that only one of our friends had made it.  Keely had gotten food poisoning the night before, making the six hour bus ride a literal impossibility.  Though we were sadly only five, we went to the grocery store to purchase our supplies because our feast was turning into a bigger endeavor by the minute—Jess’ roommates informed us that 15 people would be attending, both American and Spanish!

beautiful Cabra

surrounded by mountains

this pueblo is ready for Navidad!

Whole turkeys are nearly impossible to find here in Spain (hence the aforementioned Spanish awe) and even more difficult to come by in a small village.  We compromised by cooking a chicken and a ham, as both were easily at our disposal.  Jess’ roommate, Natalie, ordered a ham from the local butcher and we bought nearly the entire inventory of the supermarket, so we felt fairly prepared.

posing with our purchases

trekking home to the kitchen

causing a scene, as usual

After cooking all day, we served ham, chicken, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, bread and apple crisp.  The feast came off splendidly; especially the part where we all held hands around the table and said what we were thankful for.  This was done in both English and Spanish, with Jess’ roommate Crystal translating each testimony in a whisper.  The moment was very special, and I felt like a profound cultural exchange was occurring before me.

Kerry and Nat 

apple crisps 

oh hello, America 

the cooking couple

the ham in all its glory 

our table

giving thanks

All in all, Thanksgiving in Spain was a success that I hadn’t anticipated.  Though being away from my family during the holiday season is really difficult, it’s nice to have a community here to share my traditions with.  I’m thankful both that I have a home and family to miss, as well as a life full of new adventures!