Thanksgiving Traditions at UMD

Photo credit: vxla

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and, like most holidays, many people have traditions for the way in which they celebrate. Almost everyone has certain traditions that make the thought of Thanksgiving that much more exciting. The University of Maryland has students who come from a diverse set of backgrounds. In light of the holidays quickly approaching, we asked students and faculty about their Thanksgiving traditions.

Monyae Lucas, a sophomore public health major, described celebrating every Thanksgiving at her godparents’ house in Baltimore. Her family has a Jewish-American Thanksgiving dinner, which she described as containing a mix of both American and Jewish foods.

According to Lucas, though she thinks every day should be Thanksgiving, Yom Kippur, a Jewish fast day, is still her favorite holiday, since she is "forced to repent, reflect and address any bias I may hold," Lucas said.

Professor Janet Terry, who teaches broadcast journalism, celebrates every Thanksgiving in New York City with her sister and about 15 family members.

“We always have to go to New York City, and we hate the trip. It always takes nine hours instead of four because there is so much traffic, so it involves a lot of whining about it,” said Terry.

Terry said that she bakes sweet potato pie every year, and despite the long drive, the dinner is very enjoyable.

“It is usually a delicious meal and everyone thinks that my sister, who makes the meal, ordered in, but she always says she cooked everything,” said Terry.

In addition to her sister’s great cooking skills, Terry recalled something else regarding baking the turkey that continuously baffles her every year:

“[My sister] has a tiny, tiny Manhattan apartment, and by the time the turkey gets from the oven just a couple of feet, it’s cold,” Terry said, referring to the incident as a “mystery.”

Emily Kapla, a sophomore communications major, described how she spends every Thanksgiving feeding the homeless at her local church in Long Island, New York.

“We serve the homeless people who may not have a seat at the table themselves,” said Kapla.

Afterwards, Kapla said that she spends time with her family and cousins at her cousins home in Great Neck, New York. Some of her most enjoyable moments include playing games and eating “Brussel sprouts cooked in garlic, oil and salt.”

“Last year we played Cards Against Humanity because we were old enough to play,” said Kapla.

Kapla has eight cousins whom she enjoys spending time with.

“I am really, really close with my cousins. They’re a year older than me so we pretty much have grown up together and do everything together,” said Kapla.

Lacey Ohr, a sophomore business management and marketing major, goes to New York City every Thanksgiving and then goes Black Friday shopping.

“We usually like to go to an Italian restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner,” said Ohr.

Ohr said her and her family always stay at the Lotte New York Palace hotel.

Whether it includes baking sweet potato pie or feeding the homeless, students and faculty at UMD celebrate Thanksgiving in many different ways. Spending time with those you love and continuing traditions that make the holiday special to you is what matters most.