Thanksgiving is all about family, friends and traditions. Two Delray Beach families share how they celebrate the holiday.
The Killough's
Paula, Kevin and Brutis
For the Killough’s, Thanksgiving day starts early.
Paula dashes to the gym before the sun rises while chef extraordinaire Kevin prepares the big bird for the grill.
Later the pair will set the table, cook the rest of the meal, entertain their company and still manage to watch the Macy’s Christmas parade.
Since the couple began hosting Thanksgiving 10-years ago, the Connecticut transplants have always had an open door policy. Anyone is welcome to come. “The more the merrier,” Paula says.
Kevin says one of the highlights of the long weekend is spending it with his parents, Marilyn and William Killough.
His parents always fly down to spend the holiday with them. “Mom’s birthday is in November and we will celebrate it one night,” he says.
When Paula, Kevin, his parents and their guests sit down to dinner, they will feast on butternut squash soup, cranberry sauce (Marilyn’s specialty,) champagne, pumpkin pie – and don’t forget the turkey and stuffing.
As an acknowledgment to their southern lifestyle Kevin says, “We may add a sweet potato dish.”
Even Brutis, their 6-year old rescue cocker gets in to the holiday. Every year “Bruti” watches the dog show snuggled on the couch between Paula and Kevin.
Before day ends, the penguins that have been packed away in the attic will once again glow festively in their front yard. And the holidays will have officially begun at the Killough’s.
The Vanzuela's
Chelsea, Joeven and Cathy
Front Row: Cathleen, Caroline and Grandma Mildred
Fifteen years ago when Cathy Valenzuela moved to the U.S. from the Philippines
(12-years ago for Joeven,) they’d never heard of Thanksgiving.
But thanks to their American friends, it wasn’t long before the twosome knew all about turkey day.
This year the couple and their three children, Chelsea, 12, Caroline, 5, and Cathleen, 2, will celebrate Thanksgiving at home.
"We like to stay home and relax," Cathy says.
Grandma Mildred (Mildred Mana-ay, Cathy’s mother) will be there too.
For the girls, watching the Macy’s Christmas parade is a priority.
Chelsea would love to go to New York to watch the parade. And someday she hopes to have a snowy Thanksgiving.
The Valenzuela dinner will be a blend of American and Philippine favorites.
Joeven will tackle the turkey. “I think I might deep fry it this year. I heard it’s really good,” he said. Later he’ll catch some football games.
Cathy prepares the side dishes. She’ll make stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberries and noodles - a favorite in the Philippines.
And this year she’s starting a new tradition. She’ll make her first apple pie (from scratch.)
Mildred will add her specialty to the feast - egg rolls.
The Valenzuela’s think Thanksgiving is the best American holiday. Caroline and Cathleen boisterously agree.
Thanksgiving reminds the adults in the family of Fiesta in the Philippines. Each Philippine city has a patron saint. On that saint’s birthday, residents go to Mass. Later they eat a big meal with friends and family.
"Thanksgiving is more special than the other holidays because everyone celebrates regardless of race or religion," Mildred says.
The family will eat Thanksgiving dinner midafternoon. After the cleanup Cathy said, "We'll need to get out of the house for a while."
So they’ll wrap up the day with a walk on the beach.
On Friday they will buy their Christmas tree and start another new tradition – a real tree.
Once the tree is up, Cathy and Joeven can just kick and relax. “The girls take over now,” she says with a big smile on her face.
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