Our Founder Federika On How She Celebrates Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving insider with the face behind Collecto, Federika. She talks to us about planning, cooking and how her traditions have influenced her to celebrate this holiday. Here is what she had to say.

1. How are you celebrating Thanksgiving this year?
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It has been so difficult to plan anything this year. I am hosting a group of close friends for dinner at home. Keeping it cozy and casual.

1. What is always on your Thanksgiving menu?
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I don’t usually go with the traditional Thanksgiving menu so mine is always changing. I see Thanksgiving as a time to spend with close friends and family, and I modify the menu depending on where I am and who I am spending it with.

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2. What do you love most about the holiday of Thanksgiving?
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I love the concept behind it, being grateful for what we have. And the fact that people really make an effort to be with their families during this holiday. For us this happens in Christmas.

“I see Thanksgiving as a time to spend with close friends and family, and I modify the menu depending on where I am and who I am spending it with.”

1. Did you celebrate Thanksgiving when you were growing up?
2.  

Thanksgiving is not a tradition that we celebrate back home in Venezuela. I discovered it when I first moved to Boston to go to college. It’s one of those traditions I ‘borrowed’ that I love and celebrate whenever I can. I grew up with a combination of Italian and Venezuelan traditions so to me it is normal and even necessary to adopt parts of different cultures to build your own identity.

1. To decorate, fruits, flowers or veggies?

Everything! The more eclectic and random the mix, the better. I don’t like tables that follow a pattern.

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2. Who’s doing the cooking?

I love getting everyone involved to make it more engaging and take away some of the pressure. There is such a thing as ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’, so if you do this, try to keep some friends helping and others preparing and/or drinking cocktails in the meantime! Of course there are times when I am super hands-on and like doing everything myself. But I’ll do it differently this year.

“Thanksgiving is one of those traditions I ‘borrowed’ that I love and celebrate whenever I can. I grew up with a combination of Italian and Venezuelan traditions so to me it is normal and even necessary to adopt parts of different cultures to build your own identity.”

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