American Thanksgiving in New Zealand

A few of the branch members knew about the American holiday of Thanksgiving and were determined to help us Americans celebrate this year.  Our family along with a set of missionaries (Elder and Sister Tonks from Woods Cross) are the only Americans in the branch.  Daina Dunn, who does everything 110% took this on.  She mentioned on Sunday during Relief Society that we were going to hold this dinner, that it wouldn’t be an official branch activity but anyone could come who would like to join us. She had me give a list of what would be included in a typical Thanksgiving dinner, within a day she had it all assigned out including someone who would bring me a turkey to cook. 

I’m used to going to Macey’s picking out a turkey, bringing it home and cooking it.  Turkeys here cost around $100 to get them in the store.  A fairly new returned missionary named Nephi (who served in Ogden incidentally) said he’d take care of getting us one.  On Tuesday he went out and found a turkey, killed it, cleaned and plucked it and brought it to me on Wednesday morning to cook.  I so appreciate him, but have to say it had to be one of the grossest things I’ve seen.  It still had it’s neck attached with all kinds of muscles and …. well you get the picture.  That wasn’t the only place he had things coming out of him.  Ya, it was a little troubling.  I wasn’t sure I was up to the task of cooking the turkey, not to mention he was a fairly small little fellow.  I tried not to focus on the fact that he’d been out doing turkey things just the day before (I could never live on a farm).  We put him in the fridge and vowed to do our best to make him edible. 

 

The next day we went to the church to cook the turkey and begin setting up for the dinner.  Remember, we actually meet in a house, not an actual church building so it’s pretty cozy.  I had had a dream the night before that I threw up when I was preparing the turkey for the oven.  Matt, being the wonderful husband that he is, was willing to step in and get him ready. 

We followed a traditional turkey recipe, hoping it would be the same for a wild turkey.  He ended up tasting great, just not a lot of meat on him because he didn’t grow up on a turkey farm and and hadn’t been subjected to all the hormones.

By the time 6:00 pm. rolled around quite a crowd was showing up.  We ended up with about 35 adults and 15 kids coming to Thanksgiving dinner.  Many of those who came had never eaten turkey, stuffing, corn bread etc.  Wanting to make sure we had a wonderful Thanksgiving the sisters had taken the time to look up American recipes so it would be authentic.  The dinner turned out absolutely magnificent and the company even better.  It makes me just a little teary to think how embracing the members are.  It’s almost overwhelming. 

Here’s a few pictures of the food:

 

Luckily, we ended up with two turkeys since they were so small. 

 

 

 

 

Butter is one of the four food groups here.  They love it!  I had a lady tell me that you can fix anything with butter and cream.

 

 

 

After the main course sat around and visited and then enjoyed desserts: Mango and Pineapple Pie, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Strawberries and Cream, Ice Cream, Fudge, Bread Pudding with Custard and of course pumpkin pie.  You can’t buy pumpkin in a can here.  So dear Sister Tonks got a pumpkin, cooked it etc.  It was  a lot of work! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The night ended with a fireworks display which most of the kids really enjoyed (some didn’t appreciate the loud noise).  Here they celebrate Guy Fawkes Day – which is normally November 5th but seems to drag on the whole month of November.  Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about the holiday:

Guy Fawkes Night is an old English event celebrated each year on the evening of November 5th with bonfires, fireworks and family gatherings.

The origin of Guy Fawkes dates back to 1605 when a group of 12 men tried to blow up Britain’s House of Parliament. This event became known as the Gunpowder Plot, and included Mr. Guy Fawkes, who established his reputation as one of Britain’s most notorious traitors.

Under the rule of James 1st, English Catholics had been persecuted for many years. The 12 Gunpowder Plot conspirators believed that violent action was warranted to end this persecution. By blowing up the Houses of Parliament it was intended that they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics.

To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder, and stored them in a cellar just under the House of Lords.

But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th.

The warning letter reached the King, and the King’s forces made plans to stop the conspirators. Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught and sent to trial. To show the public that treason would not be tolerated, the judge sentenced Fawkes to the most horrendous form of execution available: that of being hung, drawn and quartered.

New Zealanders celebrate the annual festival in the same way as the English do, with bonfires and fireworks lit on the official November 5 night (the only difference being that it’s a lot warmer in New Zealand at this time of year!)

For kiwis, Guy Fawkes has become an occasion signaling the coming of summer and a chance for family and friends to get together and take in the excitement of spectacular fireworks. Unlike other festivals celebrated in New Zealand, Guy Fawkes does not include any special foods nor are gifts exchanged.

It was a wonderful day, one that we’ll remember forever.