Here in France Thanksgiving is not a tradition in the sense that it is in America. Never did Columbus sail the ocean blue to arrive on a land mass of welcoming natives with whom we consequently shared a filling dinner. The body that is Europe has existed for quite some time and preserved their history in such a manner that even now it can be referenced. Unfortunately, when we tell the history of America, in most instances it begins only with colonization, many times overlooking the centuries of existence and complex society that existed in the land beforehand.
Most succinctly put, Thanskgiving is important for America because it has the enhanced glamour of an origin story. Here is the crucial moment that changed it all. This is when everything could have fallen to pieces. This is the moment when our society as it is now won out among all the possible fates jumbled in the hat of chance. Over the years it has changed into something altogether different for many. It instead of being an origin story is more so a time of collective thanks. Family comes together and shares perhaps even out loud what all they mean to each other.
Most succinctly put, Thanskgiving is important for America because it has the enhanced glamour of an origin story. Here is the crucial moment that changed it all. This is when everything could have fallen to pieces. This is the moment when our society as it is now won out among all the possible fates jumbled in the hat of chance. Over the years it has changed into something altogether different for many. It instead of being an origin story is more so a time of collective thanks. Family comes together and shares perhaps even out loud what all they mean to each other.
Thanksgiving does not exist here, and I did not anticipate celebrating it. However, my school community came together to remind me once again that we too had made a little family. Lunch we shared together. Song we shared together. And on the following Saturday a few of us took the celebrations further and made sure Thanksgiving included all of our family that could be present as well, our host families. Everyone in the room identified one thing for which they were grateful, and though later my family confessed that to them it all seemed a little weird, I was delighted to have something of value to share with them in exchange for all they do for me.
In terms of other things for which to give thanks, I went to my first concert in France on the Friday between thanksgiving and our collective Saturday celebration. Words cannot embody my level of astonishment. In France American music and culture is quite popular, and even natively French groups often sing in English to try to emulate this. The concert was a collection of four such groups, but the one I loved most was “The Avener”. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people came. This video cannot at all do the concert justice as the most thrilling moments I felt would be better preserved in my memory if I profited from dancing and really hearing the bass that rumbled through the core of the crowd and let the lights dazzle me, banishing to the corner thoughts of fatigue or even thirst. I can say though that this first concert in France is the best I ever have had, and in spite of not taking a ton of pictures, never will I ever forget it.