Thanksgiving is not just a holiday; it’s a festivity deeply rooted in American history that symbolizes gratitude, unity, and reflection. It represents the collective acknowledgment of life’s abundance, fostering a spirit of thankfulness that transcends cultural and personal differences. Families gather to celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year.
What takes place in the city?
Houston has plenty of events for the occasion, bringing together a diverse array of traditions, flavors, and sounds.
The annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade features colorful floats, marching bands, and performances that capture the population’s creative energy. For once, Downtown is alive out of business hours! It was a bit of a shame that the day was gloomy and rainy, making the experience less pleasant than imagined; tickets are required to assist along the route, but comfort is not guaranteed. Friends and colleagues confessed they prefer to follow the New York Parade on TV rather than wake up early and line on the streets.
This holiday is also a moment where the sense of community comes out strong: numerous charitable events and volunteer opportunities abound, offering residents a chance to express gratitude by helping those in need. Food drives, community dinners, and outreach programs become integral to the holiday, fostering a spirit of compassion and unity among Houstonians.
At RDLR Architects
As my first Thanksgiving ever I had high expectations due to movies and books, and RDLR office exceeded them. Our principals and admin team organized a wonderful lunch on the premises: decorations were everywhere, and the space (usually an empty office area on the second floor of the building) felt warm, cozy, and familiar.
Every person had to cook a dish taking part in a kind of Iron Chef competition, choosing from categories: main dish, side dish, and dessert. Our team is a multicultural group of people from all over the world, and the food reflected this characteristic.
From traditional turkey feasts with all the trimmings to innovative fusion preparations that blend diverse culinary influences, I tasted amazing dishes from Texas, Louisiana, Mexico, Afghanistan, East Asia, and others.
At the end of the meal, awards were assigned to the best dish overall, the best of each category, and the one that needed the most improvement.
It was a beautiful event to share with my colleagues!
What’s next? Christmas and New Year
Keep reading my posts; the holiday season is coming, and I look forward to writing about Christmas and New Year in Texas.
