Celebrating Thanksgiving Abroad
Words by ASA Florence alumna, Ava Marconi
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and show gratitude to your friends and loved ones. A year ago today, I was in Florence, Italy, celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. I was lucky enough to have both my parents visit during the end of November, in time to celebrate a typical American holiday.
In Italy, Thanksgiving, of course, is not celebrated. When studying abroad, it can be difficult to miss a major holiday, especially when you’re thousands of miles away from home.
How is it possible to celebrate Thanksgiving when you’re in a different country? Here are a few tips for students who want to celebrate Thanksgiving abroad:
HAVE A FRIENDSGIVING! Set a time to get together with your friends and plan out a fun night where you celebrate each other. You can either go to a restaurant together or you can cook. It is always a fun idea when people bring different entrees, appetizers, or desserts for everyone to enjoy. It is easy to find Thanksgiving-type food at local grocery stores and cook in your apartment. Incorporating Italian foods into your Friendsgiving adds to the cultural celebration.
TRAVEL TO A NEW PLACE! A major part of studying abroad is travel, so go somewhere new! If you are homesick and feeling sad about not celebrating Thanksgiving, traveling somewhere new is a great way to take your mind off of it. You could travel to a small town in your area, or take a day trip and explore!
WRITE IN A JOURNAL! Writing down what you’re thankful for is a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving abroad. Reflecting on your time thus far in your country will help you be more appreciative of your experience and make you enjoy your time more!
GO TO A CHRISTMAS MARKET! In Florence, a Christmas market was set up in Santa Croce starting in mid-November. This helped me start thinking about Christmas early rather than focusing on Thanksgiving. Christmas is important in Italian culture. These markets have a lot to offer and get you in the holiday mood!
It is natural to feel down when you are away from family, specifically on Thanksgiving. For me, the fact that Italy didn’t celebrate this holiday made it a lot easier to cope with the fact that I was not home. I was able to spend time with my parents and friends, which led to one of the best Thanksgivings I’ve ever had.
I hope these tips help you have a great Thanksgiving whether or not your family is with you!
Thanks Ava!