Thanksgiving Story
Thanksgiving or El Día de dar Gracias is a very special day for Chicanos. We, as Chicanos, share a unique historical and cultural heritage of which we should be proud. We share directly in the roots of this Anglo-Saxon holiday and have made it ours without realizing the origin of the turkey.
Originally from México, the wild turkey or Huexolotl, was domesticated
by the Aztec people. Elegant banquets which lasted all night were held by
Aztec dignitaries and tradesmen. At least eighty to one hundred pavos (turkeys)
were prepared for these fiestas.
It is interesting to note how the turkey traveled across the Atlantic Ocean
before coming back to America. When the Spaniards arrived in the Valley of
México in the 16th century, Hernando Cortéz found turkeys in
Moctezuma's private garden.
It is said that Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus) took the pavo back to Spain before the conquest. The Spaniards frequently called this bird "la gallina del pais". But, since los Españoles brought with them herds of cows, horses, and goats that were foreign to México, they eventually overshadowed the turkeys to the point of extinction.
How could the Aztec people and the surrounding indigenous civilizations have known that the wild turkeys which they had tamed would eventually find their way to Spain in the l6th Century, to England in 1524, and then with the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and ultimately to the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth in 1621?
Now, El Día de dar Gracias has more of a personal meaning because the Huexolotl is part of our Aztec and indigenous heritage.
Thanksgiving in the Barrio
In 1998, the Luz Southside Partnership decided to provide a Thanksgiving meal to those less fortunate members of our community, primarily focusing on the Southside of town. The event was a success, serving approximately 250 people. Each year since then, the annual event has grown to serve over 1100 community members, while remembering the cultural aspect of Thanksgiving in Luz's efforts to give back to the community. Through the efforts of not only Luz Southside Partnership, but all of Luz Social Services, Luz-Guerrero Early College, and Guerrero Middle School, 2004 will mark the 6th year for Luz to hold Thanksgiving in the Barrio.
The event has been a continued success with assistance from local businesses such as Food City, Bashas, Chuy's, Fry's, Starbucks, Costco, Tony's Auto Glass, Ice Solutions, Panadero, Inc., Shamrock Foods, and other organizations such as COPE Behavioral Health and the Community Food Bank. The event would not be what it is today without the continued support of Councilmen Steve Leal and Jose Ibarra, Supervisors Richard Elias and Ramon Valadez, Representative Tom Prezelski, and Congressman Raul Grijalva.
This year's Thanksgiving in the Barrio will be held on Wednesday, November 24th at El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, 101 West Irvington. Food will be served from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Click on the flyers below for more information or contact Esperanza Lumm at (520) 882-6216.
Flyers
