Thanksgiving fails to fly with Australians

To Jack Powell, an American tourist in Melbourne, observing the Thanksgiving tradition, this year on November 28, is so important he has advertised online for compatriots to spend it with.

"This is my first Thanksgiving without my family," reads the ad placed on Gumtree's Events section by the 26-year-old from Vershire, Vermont.

"It has always been a big day for me and I would like to find other likeminded people USA or otherwise that are willing to come together for this holiday. If you have an oven capable of fitting a turkey that would be a bonus. I figure we can all make one item, potluck style and meet up for the day to feist [sic], talk about home and have a great time."

"I am a 26yo guy, traveling by myself from Vermont USA, I live in a hostel (with no oven) in the Melbourne City area. Anyone that can host this event at there [sic] house would also be fantastic.

"I'll bring the turkey and cranberry sauce."

Mr Powell, a landscape gardener, came to Australia two months ago "about a girl" but they split up, so he's sightseeing and doing casual work to save for the fare home.

He told Fairfax Media some of his happiest childhood memories were of Thanksgiving: spending the cold day chopping wood, and trying not to eat until evening.

His mother, Theresa, would shop and cook for up to eight hours, then up to 20 family members, including his six siblings, would sit down to dinner.

His dad, Richard, would give thanks for the family's shelter, good health and delicious food, and they would feast on a large turkey and gravy, mashed potato, sweet potato, cranberry juice, pumpkin pie and ice-cream.

This month in the Melbourne CBD it has been cold and raining but to Mr Powell it was warm: at Thanksgiving in Vermont it can snow and get down to minus 6 degrees.

He likes Melbourne but knows no one. "I miss the US. I miss the people, I miss hearing their voices, the simple things that make a place feel like home.

"I figured I'd find 10 or 20 people that would all want to get together and bring an item, a pumpkin pie or make some stuffing, bring some mashed potatoes or some drinks. It didn't seem like too much to ask."

Jeanette Bertino, owner of retailer USA Foods in Moorabbin, said she hasn't noticed a trend for Australians to celebrate Thanksgiving. "Some Australians don't get the gist of it because it's not their holiday," she said. "It's like Americans have no clue about Boxing Day, because we just don't celebrate it."

Orders for goods such as canned pumpkin and Mrs Cubbison's bread stuffing had risen by about 10 per cent since she opened in 1997, mostly due to American expatriates.

But Misty, from Misty's Diner in High Street, Prahran, said her first Thanksgiving dinner eight years ago attracted about 30 people, and at this year's $50 a head event on November 28 she expects more than 100, more than half of them non-Americans.

Jack Powell can be contacted at jlpboxing@yahoo.com.