Weird post. Somehwat related to veterans thing.

preppynewlywed

I remember being in school and not quite "getting" American history when I was younger.  Since my parents are immigrants [and came in the mid 70s] they really didn't know American history.  So I never heard stories of the Civil War and other such things [um, like Abe Lincoln] until I got to school.

It wasn't because my parents didn't WANT me to learn it, it was because they didn't really know it themselves.  I remember my mom getting really upset one day when I was in 5th grade because I had questions about WWII...and she didn't really know "America's perspective."

For really American holidays like Veteran's Day or Thanksgiving, it is very odd to be in an immigrant family.  My parents don't really get these holidays.  We celebrate Thanksgiving but it is WAY different than an American Thanksgiving...it is really just a big Italian dinner.

It is just crazy to think that my kid will be second generation American...and we have absolutely no ties to any of wars until after 1976 on the American side.

That's all.

Self-reflection over.

palomaLuna

That's an interesting outlook, Preppy. It makes me realize a lot of the stuff I tend to take for granted. Thanks for the reminder!

Btw, DH's family is Mexican, so when we get together with them for Thanksgiving, we just have a big Mexican dinner, complete with rice, beans and tortillas. Sometimes someone will throw in an "American" side dish like candied sweet potatoes.

 

ginifred

preppynewlywed:

I remember being in school and not quite "getting" American history when I was younger.  Since my parents are immigrants [and came in the mid 70s] they really didn't know American history.  So I never heard stories of the Civil War and other such things [um, like Abe Lincoln] until I got to school.

It wasn't because my parents didn't WANT me to learn it, it was because they didn't really know it themselves.  I remember my mom getting really upset one day when I was in 5th grade because I had questions about WWII...and she didn't really know "America's perspective."

For really American holidays like Veteran's Day or Thanksgiving, it is very odd to be in an immigrant family.  My parents don't really get these holidays.  We celebrate Thanksgiving but it is WAY different than an American Thanksgiving...it is really just a big Italian dinner.

It is just crazy to think that my kid will be second generation American...and we have absolutely no ties to any of wars until after 1976 on the American side.

That's all.

Self-reflection over.

I'm right there with you Preppy.  My parents are both from Canada - they moved to GA in '81 right after they got married.  I didn't learn much American History outside of school either, nor did I really "get" some of the Holidays.  Of course, Canada has a Thanksgiving, but its in October.  And my family always acknowledge Boxing Day as well.

On the other hand, my parents did know some things about American History since Canada isn't as far disconnected from American as Europe would be.

buckin

Since DH was a different Religion then me, we made a tradition for religious holidays (christmas, yule, easter, samhain etc.) to sit down and discuss history and tradition of the holiday. I also look up traditional meals etc and try to make a few dishes to celebrate.

You could do that in your family for "American" Holidays and pass down the Italian parts because you are still celebrating Thanksgiving and more than anyone can appreciate what it represents: Being in a new country, making friends with the natives and celebrating with a meal to a new world/life etc.