Embracing Thanksgiving

Celebrating Thanksgiving became the first American tradition she adopted after moving to the United States. Drawn to its sense of gratitude and togetherness, this annual holiday provided a meaningful way to connect with both neighbors and new friends. The simple act of preparing a meal and gathering around a table felt both welcoming and significant.

Participating in Thanksgiving traditions allowed her to better understand American culture and created a shared experience with those around her. Adopting this tradition marked the beginning of building strong connections in a new country.

Understanding American Traditions

American traditions reflect a combination of cultural influences, shaping daily experiences and beliefs. These practices are rooted in history and continue to influence communities and individuals, both in public celebrations and through educational settings.

Defining Traditions

Traditions are repeated customs, rituals, or beliefs passed down within a group or society. In the United States, traditions range from national holidays like Thanksgiving and Independence Day to smaller family or regional customs.

Traditions can include annual celebrations, religious observances, and social practices. Some—such as Thanksgiving dinners or Fourth of July fireworks—emphasize national identity, while others focus on particular groups or family routines.

Educational systems also play a role, as students often participate in yearly events, pledge ceremonies, and commemorations. Each serves to foster a sense of belonging and to maintain continuity across generations.

Historical Roots of American Customs

Many American customs stem from a blend of indigenous, European, African, and other global sources. The practice of moving, for instance, traces back to early pilgrims and colonists seeking new opportunities or religious freedom.

Key holidays, including Thanksgiving, highlight colonial encounters and agricultural cycles. The phrase "city upon a hill" illustrates how religious and civic ideals became central to American identity.

Periods like the Great Awakening also shaped social and religious customs, emphasizing personal faith and community gatherings. Over time, as different cultures arrived and contributed, American traditions evolved and broadened in meaning and form.

The Role of Traditions in Daily Life

Traditions influence routines at home, in schools, and within communities. For many, they provide structure and connect people through shared experiences such as family meals, school events, and local festivals.

Educational institutions often reinforce traditions through scheduled events like graduation ceremonies, school spirit weeks, and holiday programs. This helps integrate new members and transmit values across generations.

In everyday contexts, traditions can be as simple as a weekend barbecue or as formal as national observances. These rituals help people commemorate, reflect, and support one another, shaping their sense of identity and belonging.

Deciding to Adopt an American Tradition

Adopting a new tradition requires both intentional decision-making and a willingness to explore new ideas. For many immigrants and adoptees, this choice is shaped by personal needs and the daily experiences of adjusting to life in an adoptive home.

Personal Motivations

For someone moving to the United States, adopting an American tradition can be a practical step toward feeling settled. People may find motivation in the desire to connect more deeply with their adoptive homes and communities.

For adoptees, participating in shared traditions can strengthen identity and create a sense of belonging. Some are driven by the wish to bridge the gap between their original and adoptive cultures.

Embracing holiday customs, like Thanksgiving or Independence Day, allows newcomers to join in meaningful social moments. These events help build memories and foster relationships with others.

In many cases, the motivation is not just to fit in but also to genuinely appreciate new customs. Over time, these adopted traditions can become an important part of the individual’s life in America.

Cultural Curiosity and Integration

Curiosity about American traditions is a natural response to living in a new cultural environment. Many people are interested in understanding the reasons behind different holidays, foods, or celebrations.

Learning about traditions, such as hiding a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree, can spark conversations and create opportunities to learn from others. This active curiosity supports cultural integration, making daily life feel less foreign.

Making the effort to adopt a tradition often involves asking questions, observing how others celebrate, or even seeking advice from members of the adoptive home. This openness leads to shared experiences and helps people find their place within the broader American community.

Integration is not just about acceptance but about meaningful participation. By engaging with local customs, newcomers and adoptees can develop connections and experience a sense of involvement that goes beyond mere observation.

The First American Tradition I Adopted

Adjusting to life in the United States included learning new customs and celebrating local traditions. The process of adopting these unique practices offered new ways to connect with others and experience American culture.

Description of the Tradition

The first American tradition adopted was celebrating Thanksgiving. This holiday, observed on the fourth Thursday in November, is centered around sharing a meal with family and friends to express gratitude. Key elements include preparing turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.

Thanksgiving brings people together regardless of their backgrounds. Families often travel long distances, and the meal typically features several traditional dishes that have become symbols of American culture.

One core value of Thanksgiving is inclusivity. Many communities invite newcomers to join, making it a time when cultural exchange and adoptive placement within communities naturally occur.

Initial Experiences and Feelings

At first, the experience of participating in Thanksgiving felt both unfamiliar and inviting. The aromas of food, crowded tables, and eager conversations created an atmosphere unlike any other holiday.

She found the tradition of going around the table to express gratitude particularly memorable. Sharing personal thoughts in front of others was new, but it encouraged openness and reflection.

There was a sense of belonging that came from being included. Preparing food together, watching parades or football, and learning about the origins of the holiday helped deepen an appreciation for the custom.

Community and Social Impact

Thanksgiving fostered stronger relationships among neighbors, friends, and even coworkers. Being part of the celebration encouraged new arrivals to establish social connections and feel a sense of adoptive placement within the American community.

The event became an opportunity to reciprocate hospitality by eventually hosting her own Thanksgiving. This act further strengthened ties with others and reinforced the tradition's spirit of sharing.

Participating in Thanksgiving revealed how traditions can shape personal identity and community belonging. The collective nature of the holiday demonstrated how powerful shared customs can be in integrating new members into social groups.

Cultural Context: American Traditions and Native Communities

American traditions have roots in the customs of Indigenous peoples and the influences of later settlers. Key aspects such as community practices, governance, and cultural resilience show the depth and diversity of Native communities and their ongoing significance in the United States.

Native American Heritage and Practices

Native Americans have a history in North America stretching back thousands of years. These communities developed diverse languages, social structures, and spiritual practices long before the arrival of European settlers.

Common traditions include powwows, ceremonies like the Sun Dance, and storytelling passed down orally. Many tribes maintain connections to specific lands and continue practices such as growing traditional crops and crafting beadwork or pottery.

Oral histories and clan structures remain important, even as some practices have adapted over time. Native heritage today is preserved through both formal institutions and family-based traditions, highlighting resilience and adaptability in changing social environments. Preservation efforts continue, despite historical pressures of cultural assimilation.

Five Civilized Tribes and Their Influence

The Five Civilized Tribes—Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek (Muscogee), and Seminole—played key roles in shaping American history. They were called "civilized" by European settlers for adopting various aspects of European-American culture, including written languages, centralized governments, and Christianity.

These tribes established schools, legal systems, and constitutional governments in Indian Territory. Their influence persists in present-day Oklahoma, where many descendants live and work to uphold cultural traditions.

During the 19th century, forced removals such as the Trail of Tears tested the resilience of the Five Civilized Tribes. Despite these hardships, their language, customs, and governance structures continue to impact both Native and national communities.

Indigenous Sovereignty and Rights

Indigenous sovereignty refers to the inherent right of Native nations to govern themselves. Tribes retain the authority to determine membership, establish laws, and control land within reservations or territories.

Important federal laws, such as the Indian Child Welfare Act, protect rights related to child custody and cultural continuity. Ongoing legal disputes concern land management, treaty obligations, and representation in government.

Tribal governments operate alongside federal and state authorities, advocating for the protection of sovereign rights. Their legal status shapes relationships with non-Native governments and secures vital connections to cultural identity and heritage.

The Legacy of Adoption in America

Adoption in the United States has been shaped by laws, social movements, and the experiences of adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families. Changing policies over time have responded to evolving ideas about child welfare and cultural heritage.

Historical Adoption Policies

Early American adoption was informal, with private arrangements and little government oversight. In 1851, Massachusetts passed the first “modern” adoption law, introducing requirements for the best interests of the child, which became a model for other states.

By the 20th century, adoption policies formalized parental rights, confidentiality, and official records. The growth of closed adoptions meant that adoptees and birth parents often had no contact or access to identifying information. Confidential adoption aimed to protect everyone’s privacy, though it also limited the rights of those involved.

During the postwar era, societal attitudes promoted adoption as a solution for childless couples and unmarried pregnant women. The practice affected thousands, shaping family structures nationwide.

Child Welfare and Indian Child Welfare Act

Child welfare policy in the United States has included efforts to protect vulnerable children, often resulting in removal from birth families and placement in foster or adoptive homes. Native American children were disproportionately affected by these removals, particularly in the mid-1900s, as many were placed with non-Native families.

In response to community outcry and evidence of cultural loss, Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978. The ICWA gave tribal governments authority in cases involving Native children and set standards to prioritize placement with extended family or within tribal communities.

The act was designed to address historic injustices and support the retention of cultural identity among Native children. Its implementation remains widely discussed due to ongoing legal and social challenges.

Impact on Birth and Adoptive Families

Adoption’s legacy affects birth parents, adoptive families, and adoptees in unique and lasting ways. Birth parents have often experienced significant grief and loss, especially in eras dominated by closed adoptions and limited post-adoption contact.

Adoptees have historically faced barriers to accessing information about their origins and building connections to their birth heritage. Over the decades, advocacy has increased for open records and access to birth information, reflecting shifting attitudes about identity.

Adoptive families, in turn, navigate evolving social perceptions and legal responsibilities. The day-to-day realities of adoptive placement shape relationships, identity development, and belonging in nuanced ways that reflect broader changes in child welfare and adoption policy.

Challenges and Opportunities in Adopting Traditions

Adopting American traditions can involve both meaningful connections and significant personal adjustment. Understanding these challenges and opportunities can help guide respectful and informed engagement across cultural lines.

Navigating Cultural Differences

Cultural differences can affect how traditions are understood, practiced, and valued. Newcomers may face confusion over social cues, etiquette, or symbolism central to American customs. For example, informal gatherings like Thanksgiving may carry expectations around food, conversation, and even expressing gratitude, which can feel unfamiliar.

Language barriers and varied upbringings may affect participation, leading to anxiety or hesitation. Adjusting to traditions rooted in histories of colonization — as seen with some holidays or community events — can also present ethical considerations. Awareness of this context is important to avoid erasing or oversimplifying complex histories.

Practical approaches include:

Observing and asking clarifying questions.
Maintaining respect for both host and personal traditions.
Engaging in community education about the origins and meanings behind specific customs.

Adapting to these differences requires patience and a willingness to learn. When done thoughtfully, it also opens opportunities for authentic connection.

Overcoming Stereotypes and Trauma

For some, adopting American traditions may reopen wounds linked to historical trauma. Communities affected by colonization — Native American groups in particular — may view traditions shaped by boarding schools or assimilation policies with caution or discomfort. These institutions often separated families and dismantled cultural identity over generations.

Stereotypes can create added barriers. Newcomers may be expected to participate in ways that fit outsiders’ assumptions, rather than their own experiences or comfort levels. This can lead to feelings of exclusion or reinforce stigmas.

A trauma-informed approach is critical. This may involve listening to personal boundaries, recognizing the effects of past trauma, and supporting healing. Open, empathetic dialogue and intentional inclusivity help individuals feel safe and respected as they integrate or blend traditions.

Historical Influences on Traditions and Adoption

American traditions today have been shaped by a series of government actions, forced migrations, and dramatic changes to Indigenous ways of life. Key events in the 19th century played a major role in altering family structures and how traditions were passed down or adopted.

The Indian Removal Era and Its Aftermath

The Indian Removal Era began in the 1830s, led primarily by President Andrew Jackson. The goal was to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands in what is now Oklahoma.

Laws such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the federal government to negotiate land exchanges and forcibly remove tribes from their ancestral lands in states like Alabama and Mississippi. This period resulted in widespread displacement, loss of traditional homelands, and the beginning of major cultural upheaval.

Whole communities were separated, which severely impacted language preservation, family roles, and long-standing cultural practices. The effects of these acts linger, affecting how traditions are maintained and adopted by later generations.

The Trail of Tears and Forced Relocation

The "Trail of Tears" is the most well-known outcome of Indian removal policies. After the U.S. Senate and federal authorities enforced removal treaties, thousands of Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole people were forced to walk from their homelands in states like Alabama and Mississippi to designated areas in Oklahoma.

Conditions along the route were harsh. Cold, disease, and lack of food led to thousands of deaths. The trauma of forced relocation disrupted Native customs, ceremonies, and family cohesion.

This event marked not just a physical journey but also a major interruption to cultural continuity and the ability to pass down rituals, further shaping how traditions were adopted or lost.

Federal Government Policies

U.S. federal government policies went beyond relocation. After tribes arrived in Oklahoma, new laws imposed American-style education, religious practices, and governance systems. Boarding schools aimed to eliminate Native languages, ceremonies, and identities.

Major decisions affecting Native Americans were often made without their consent by the Senate and federal agencies. Federal oversight led to restricted self-governance and reshaped community bonds.

The cumulative effect of these policies hindered Indigenous ability to maintain or adapt their own traditions. Over time, some individuals and families selectively adopted American customs, while still striving to preserve parts of their original culture.

Personal Reflections and Future Outlook

Adopting a new tradition brought both challenges and opportunities for growth. Through this process, important lessons, guidance for others, and ideas for future cultural exchange became clear.

Lessons Learned

Adjusting to a tradition that was unfamiliar at first required patience and open-mindedness. Understanding the roots of the practice—whether it connected to American family gatherings, holidays, or local customs—helped to ease the transition and build a meaningful experience. She recognized that the practical details, such as adhering to social norms and expectations, were as important as understanding the broader cultural context.

The experience offered insight into the value of belonging. There were new connections formed that paralleled, in some ways, the journey of adopted individuals seeking ties beyond their original families. This made her reflect on the importance of transparency in relationships, reminiscent of how adoption records or the involvement of biological parents and the voluntary termination of parental rights play a role in forming new family units.

Learning from those who had already navigated similar experiences proved invaluable. Local friends, community organizations, and resources from groups such as a national council helped her gain confidence. Each challenge became a step toward deeper understanding.

Advice for Newcomers

For someone considering adopting a new American tradition, observation is key. Start by attending events with an open mind, ask questions respectfully, and seek clarity on unfamiliar parts of the tradition. Not every aspect will make sense at first, but gradual participation can make the experience more rewarding.

She found it helpful to keep a small journal or list of key moments and learnings. Documenting what felt surprising or significant helped solidify memories and clarify personal growth. If possible, engage with those who have a connection to the tradition—whether through organizing groups or via community centers—to gain a richer perspective.

It is important to respect the significance traditions may hold for long-standing members. Asking about the history, including references to local custom keepers or even how certain practices evolved from voluntary choices similar to adoption, deepened her appreciation.

Embracing Ongoing Cultural Exchange

Maintaining an ongoing cultural dialogue became a central part of her adaptation process. She actively participated in discussions about the tradition’s meaning and its impact on various groups, drawing parallels with the way national councils and organizations help facilitate transparency in adoption.

Regularly connecting with both other newcomers and established community members helped her expand her cultural repertoire. This reciprocal sharing benefitted everyone and led to mutual understanding. She encouraged open conversations about personal reflections, sometimes touching on sensitive issues such as family histories, relationships with biological parents, or even how personal stories influence current traditions.

Through continuous learning and enthusiasm for new experiences, she remains committed to fostering a welcoming space for other newcomers and supporting the respectful exchange of ideas going forward.

The First American Tradition I Adopted After Moving