Students and staff celebrated Thanksgiving Day for the first time at a special event held for the increasing numbers of North American students at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
DMU students and guests were treated to a Thanksgiving-themed buffet and quiz, with colourful leaf décor, pumpkins and flags adorning the venue.
Jamal Lightbourne, from Francis Marion University in South Carolina, US, is in the final year of Politics and International Relations at DMU and said: “It’s good to spend time with friends I’ve met here, to represent my culture on this day.
“I’m thankful to be here, that I had the opportunity to be here. It’s interesting that a British university is celebrating Thanksgiving. I think it’s brilliant because we live in an interconnected world today.
“In order to understand this world, we need to understand different cultures. DMU and Leicester are part of a truly international platform.”
The US has celebrated Thanksgiving on every fourth Thursday in November since 1863, while Canadians enjoy a similar holiday usually on the second Monday in October.
Shiaza Tindal, studying Politics, who is also from Francis Marion University, said: “It feels great that DMU put this on to make us feel more at home. I am celebrating with friends I have made here. I love it here, I really do.”
There are more than 30 students from North America now at DMU, and the university accepted its first study abroad student this year from the US, into the Faculty of Art, Design and Humanities, from partner institution, Knox College in Illinois.
The new programme transfers credits earned at DMU back to the home institution and study abroad students can choose to study for a semester or a year, with the help of scholarships.
The university works with eight partner institutions across the US and Canada, including Mount Royal University in Calgary and Francis Marion University in South Carolina – offering students international exchange and study abroad opportunities.
Jackson Chik is on from Toronto, Canada and studying the LLM in Medical Evidence at DMU. He said: “It’s such good consideration by DMU, especially coming from a place where we have such a big celebration for Thanksgiving, which is regarded as big as Christmas.
“When you see all the flags and the decorations here tonight, it just takes away all your homesickness.”
The Thanksgiving tradition began under the US presidency of Abraham Lincoln and originated as a Christian festival, to give thanks to God for the harvest. Roast turkey is often at the centre of the meal, giving rise to the day’s other name, Turkey Day. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and sweet potatoes are served with the turkey, as well as cranberry sauce, corn and squash, with pumpkin pie a popular dessert. Americans are reported to eat more food on this day than any other day of the year.
Posted on Friday 27 November 2015