Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday - it's a day that's

Marcus Samuelsson, chef of many cultures and bearer of rich traditions, once proclaimed: “Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday – it's a day that's American to the core and it's a day that's all about what and how we eat.” In these words lies a recognition both simple and profound: that food is more than sustenance, that eating together is more than a meal. For Samuelsson, who himself embodies the blending of nations—born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, and embraced by America—the feast of Thanksgiving becomes not only an American ritual but also a symbol of what binds people across every culture: the act of sharing a table.

The origin of this truth is deeply tied to the American story. Thanksgiving, from its earliest days in the 17th century, was about survival and gratitude—Pilgrims and Indigenous peoples joining in a meal after a season of hardship. Over centuries, it grew into a national celebration, not centered on gifts or spectacle, but on food itself. Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pies: dishes that reflect the land and its bounty. Samuelsson’s observation—that the holiday is “all about what and how we eat”—reminds us that this day is not defined by decorations or rituals alone, but by the feast as a gathering place, where families express love and gratitude through cooking and sharing.

Samuelsson’s own journey gives this quote special depth. As a chef, he has traveled the world, blending flavors from Africa, Europe, and America. To him, food is identity, memory, and story. When he calls Thanksgiving “American to the core,” he is not only praising the turkey on the table but also acknowledging how food itself is the great unifier in the American experiment. Each immigrant family has added its own dish to the Thanksgiving table—tamales beside turkey, collard greens beside stuffing, dumplings beside pumpkin pie. This holiday, perhaps more than any other, reflects the nation’s diversity expressed through the language of flavor and hospitality.

History gives us countless examples of food as the heart of cultural identity. In ancient Rome, feasts were symbols of both community and power, binding citizens together around shared bounty. In traditional Jewish culture, the Passover meal serves not merely as nourishment but as storytelling, a ritual where food recalls the trials and victories of the people. In much the same way, the Thanksgiving table is not only for eating but for remembering—remembering who we are, where we came from, and what we hold sacred.

The deeper meaning of Samuelsson’s words is that food is sacred when it is shared in gratitude. It is not simply what we eat, but how we eat: together, slowly, in reflection and joy. Thanksgiving calls families to pause in a world of haste, to cook with intention, to sit with patience, to listen to stories across the table. In this rhythm, the act of eating becomes more than consumption—it becomes communion.

The lesson for future generations is clear: guard your traditions of food and gathering, for they are the lifeblood of culture. Teach your children not only recipes, but the stories that come with them. When you prepare a dish, let it be done with care, for in that dish is a vessel of memory and love. And when you gather to eat, do not let the television or the phone steal the moment—let the table be a place of connection, gratitude, and unity.

Practical wisdom flows from this truth. This Thanksgiving, or any day of gathering, do not measure the success of the feast by how elaborate or luxurious it is, but by the spirit of joy at the table. Cook what you can, share what you have, and invite those who may be alone, for no one should be without a place of belonging. Make food a bridge, not a barrier, and let the flavors of many cultures enrich the table, just as many lives enrich a nation.

Thus, Samuelsson’s reflection becomes a teaching for all time. Thanksgiving, American to its core, reminds us that the act of eating together is one of humanity’s oldest and most unifying rituals. Let us honor it not merely as a holiday, but as a practice of daily life: to eat with gratitude, to cook with love, and to remember that in every meal shared, we affirm the bonds that hold us together.