“Frenchgiving” in Rennes

Thanksgiving, an American holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, was celebrated not only in America this year, but also in France, as my American friends and I brought our traditions and festivities to Rennes. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but I only began appreciating it after I started college. It’s a day where you can spend time with friends and family, share good memories and laughter, and eat delicious food. While it was difficult to be away from my family this year, I could still enjoy the holiday with my friends, create new memories, and even partake in some typical Thanksgiving traditions.

For as long as I can remember, I have always celebrated Thanksgiving with my immediate family. When I was younger, I had never really appreciated the holiday, and it was only after my first semester in college that I realized the importance of Thanksgiving. After not living with my family for a whole semester, I appreciated that Thanksgiving is a day when the family can come together again and share memories and laughter over a delicious home-cooked meal. Because I am studying in Rennes this semester, I could not spend Thanksgiving with my family, which was difficult for me, as the holiday has become one of my favorites. 

My family has many Thanksgiving traditions, and I was sad that I could not partake in them with my family; however, I was able to share some traditions with my friends this year in Rennes. Every year on Thanksgiving, I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show with my family, but this year I streamed the shows on my phone throughout the day and watched them with my friends. I am grateful that we could share these traditions together, as it made the day special and allowed me to realize that I can still have a good holiday without celebrating with just my family. The most typical Thanksgiving tradition is the food served at dinner – turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, stuffing, green beans and carrots, cranberry sauce, and a variety of pies. This year, I was able to have a typical Thanksgiving feast with a French twist, which was delicious and something I was thankful for this year, but at the end of the day, I was more grateful for the friends I got to share the meal with. Although I could not spend the holiday with my family, I am grateful that I could share it with my friends, as we shared laughter and created new Thanksgiving memories. Thanksgiving doesn’t just have to be about spending time with family, it can be about spending time with friends too.

Thanksgiving in Rennes, or “Frenchgiving,” allowed me to realize that there is more to Thanksgiving than just family, and it doesn’t matter where in the world you celebrate, you can still make the most out of the day if you try. I am thankful that I could bring some of my Thanksgiving traditions to Rennes and share them with my friends, as I created new memories that I will remember for many Thanksgiving days to come. 

Williams, Hannah

Furman University

CIEE-Rennes FALL 2024 LA