Thanksgiving Traditions Among Purchase Students

By Lilee Cecchini and Raina Roller

The excitement of Thanksgiving break is in the air around campus. Students, whether they are heading home for the holiday or staying on campus, are preparing to celebrate with friends or family and enjoy some delicious food. 

(From left to right) Andie Kershner, Matthew Killen, Devam Sprowls, Lucy Rube, Sophia Duval, and Veronica Arrow-King enjoying their time together before break begins. (Photo by Lilee Cecchini)

Students from various cultural backgrounds have special traditional meals that they eat on Thanksgiving. 

"I'm Caribbean, so I want to see everything that is popular on the table, jerk chicken, macaroni and cheese, eggnog, curry goat, rice and peas and of course, turkey," said freshman Deanna Wallace.

"My grandma, before she passed, used to make this killer cheesecake," said freshman Andie Kershner. "It was the best cheesecake I've ever had in my entire life. My aunt got the recipe, and they make it every year, and they're coming to Thanksgiving this year, and I'm excited."

 Samantha Mac Millan (left) and Kelly Funes (right) walking together after one of their last classes before Thanksgiving break begins. (Photo by Lilee Cecchini)

When asked about what dish she wanted to see on the dinner table, freshman Sophia Duval said, "I come from an Italian household, so lasagna." 

Kelly Funes, a freshman, said her favorite traditional meal is "pan con pollo from El Salvador, it's just bread with chicken, and there's a special sauce on it too and other vegetables on it." 

While some students stay on campus for the holiday, many choose to travel home for the break. "This is my first Thanksgiving in America, so I will visit a relative's house, it's four hours by bus. I am very excited," said Chika Arasaki, a first-year international student. "I'm an hour and thirty away, so my dad's picking me up," said Samantha Mac Millan, a freshman. 

Many students also have special family traditions or things they are looking forward to doing over the holiday break. "It's really just a basic dinner, but we cook more," said Anayali Fontanez, a freshman. "This year we are actually decorating for Christmas." 

"I'm excited to sleep more," said senior Alex Pallas. "I might be going to a few  Friendsgivings and maybe even host my own," Duval said.

Students anticipate a break from classes during the Thanksgiving holiday, whether they remain on campus or travel to spend time with friends or family.

"Usually, every Thanksgiving, I go up to Albany with my family; it's usually a big family gathering. My mom is one of five, and it's her younger sister's house, and the other four siblings gather there, so it's a big family gathering," said Sprowls. "I'm going to do what I always do when I go home, which is go to the skatepark with friends," said Kershner.