Standing, leaping, squelching, shoving, pushing, falling, ramming, WAIT … Was that Mickey Mouse I just saw?

Landing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade seemed a far cry short of Plymouth Rock, as a spectacle of floats, balloons and performers welcomed the traditional festivities of the holiday. A joyous day for all the family to celebrate with heightened spirits as their favorite characters are propelled 70 feet into the sky! However, as I perilously lean on a ledge to try and catch a glimpse of the show, I wonder whether the idea of a parade as a magical experience is as fake a concept as the characters the balloons portray.

With millions of spectators parading into the streets of New York before having their morning espressos, the merriment turned into madness. Elbows and knees at the ready, millions flocked to ensure they had a good viewing experience of the big event. All had gathered to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, a time to reflect on the importance of family and friends while waving enthusiastically to the “Saturday Night Live” cast. In spite of the mayhem, as I was ushered and pushed through the crowd, a sense of joy and entertainment engulfed the masses.

As my hand grew tired from snapping and waving away, we returned to Long Island where, in a strange turn of events, natives of America were hosting the first-ever Thanksgiving meal for us English brood. I am told that Thanksgiving is a time of year to give thanks for all one’s blessings and celebrate the ushering of the holiday season.

However, the story of Thanksgiving is an out-of-date concept — Something about Pilgrims and Native Americans being friendly? I am told that Americans now celebrate their amicability by eating, spending time with family and talking about how great it is to be American. Yet, while i have been in America this semester I have failed to meet a single Pilgrim or Native American, so I can’t help but wonder how this occasion turned into a national holiday.

Did Americans suddenly miss the vast presence of the two groups and want to remind themselves of their origins? Or is the opportunity to feast while having a day off work too good an opportunity to pass up? Either way, the holiday certainly cheers up the nation, allowing people to reflect on their blessings and spend time with loved ones while failing to acknowledge the weather’s attempt to dampen people’s spirits.

The feast itself was spectacular — a traditional array of turkey, pumpkin pie and sweet potato enveloped the table. I was at that moment thankful to be submerged in a holiday where food is the main ingredient and sleep is the dessert.

As the blissful aroma of the turkey filled the house and I was immersed in warmth and joy, I contemplated what I should be thankful for. My friends … my family … being able to survive the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Giving thanks is not embedded in the British psyche but rather a generic term to avoid insulting British politeness. The nearest equivalent we have to Thanksgiving is the Harvest Festival, a time that very few celebrate and few have heard of.

Instead, we pride ourselves in holidays that encourage drinking and do not involve any patriotic symbolism. We turn shy about expressing proud beliefs in living in a free, democratic country. Therefore, I stood still as the pendulum of thanks paused at me on the table. What was it again that I was thankful for? Oh yes, my family and friends.

However, the Brits are no strangers to the traditions of eating, sleeping and eating some more. As we dug into the meal and tucked ourselves into a turkey daze, I certainly welcomed the delights of Thanksgiving into my life. It seems like a holiday I can certainly get used to.