Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Since it's a true American holiday, we are celebrating with the five Americans who we know here in Bujumbura. I was told by a Burundian friend that " In the Burundi tradition, there was a Thanksgiving Day. It was called Umuganuro, and in many countries in Africa they have that day as well, but it was celebrated on different days. In Burundi this day was celebrated in December. The Umuganuro day was the celebration for the first fruits and of sowing the sorghum (which is the most sacred plant in Burundi as it is used for making a traditional wine used in all celebrations)."
Our kindly landlady knows about our American Thanksgiving in November. When the men went to her home in July to sign the lease, they saw the turkeys that she raises and talked about Thanksgiving. She told them that she would give us a turkey for our holiday feast.
This week she wrote us an email from Germany to make good on her promise. She said that we could go to her house on Wednesday and her cook would give us our "turkey in the flesh."
Now the question is, do we need to bring a leash to get our turkey to follow us to the car? Will he be fully dressed in his feathered attire? What is a "turkey in the flesh?" Does it resemble at all a Norbest turkey with the pop-up timer that you find in plastic wrap in the freezer case at Bashas?
I have already warned Brent that I will be dining out this Thanksgiving if the turkey walks on its own two feet into our yard. He assured me that he would join me & then we'll come home for pie & bring some bird seed for our new pet. Things are always interesting here, even a gift turkey. We can't wait to see what Wednesday brings. Just another Happy Thanksgiving in Africa.
2 comments:
In the Burundi tradition, there was a Thanksgiving Day. It was called Umuganuro, and I think in many countries in Africa they have that day as well, but it was celebrated on different days. In Burundi this day was celebrated in December. The Umuganuro day was the celebration for the first fruits and of sowing the sorghum (which is the most sacred plant in Burundi as it is used for making a traditional wine used in all celebrations). During the Umuganuro Day the King and his counselors offered a big party to the whole nation and there were many rituals associated with it in order to give Thanks to gods for all the blessings and also prayed for the protection, the prosperity and the unity of the country. Unfortunately the Umuganuro is not celebrated the same way as it was back then due to many outside influence; and also Catholic Missionaries banned all traditional rituals because it was barbaric practices according to them. People in Burundi consider the New Year as the Thanksgiving Day and that is why the New Year is still the most exciting and celebrated day there (even during the hardship period where there was less hope, still it is a big day). So we do celebrate Thanksgiving on our way and just on a different period of time.
Hi Uncle & Auntie.
I don't know when I've seen such a truck
and won't see again soon if I have any luck.
The irony here is the love Uncle B
has for cars that are not geek-y.
Status, it seems, was the name of the game
until the Congo/Barundi mission made him humble/tame.
Then there's that turkey; a prettier, bigger one I've never seen
cutting that thing up doesn't sound keen.
If you do become that bold and brave
You'll eat enough turkey to put you in the grave.
Sorry. Couldn't resist. Love ya tons. Kelly
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