Celebrating Thanksgiving Irish American Style

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Irish people all over the U.S. are preparing to celebrate the national holiday. The Irish Voice spoke to members of the Irish American community about their plans for Thanksgiving, what they are grateful for and how they perceive the American holiday.

What does Thanksgiving mean to Irish people living in the United States?

"For me Thanksgiving is a lot like Christmas, family coming together, eating, drinking and being merry and thankful for the things we have. I really enjoy the day and can appreciate this holiday even though it's still relatively new to me."

Paul Byrne, who is originally from Dublin

and now lives in Orange County.

"It means an unexpected and welcome extra holiday just as the long nights are closing in, and a reminder that Christmas is just around the corner."

Robert Shortt, correspondent for Irish broadcaster RTE,

who is based in Washington, D.C.

"Thanksgiving is more like a pre-Christmas to me. Just a quiet interim holiday, but this year I'll have my sister down from Springfield, Massachusetts for a pilgrims get together. So maybe I'll see Thanksgiving more for what it actually is going forward."

Maurice Landers, president of the

Co. Limerick Association of New York.

"Thanksgiving actually did not mean that much to me till I met my husband. When I lived in New York a gang of us would get together in an apartment - whoever had the biggest one - and whoever could cook made the big dinner. "

"It was a great day for eating and drinking and relaxing with friends. When I met my husband I was introduced to military life and lonely soldiers and sailors, and my husband would bring home whomever he met with no plans.

"When I joined the Navy and ended up in boot camp over Thanksgiving and Christmas, I realized how lonely it is to be away from your family (the kind of lonely you feel getting off that plane at JFK after leaving Ireland) and on your own, relying on your shopmates, and you make the best of it."

"So when I was at NAS JAX I used to check with the ones I worked with to make sure they all had plans and if they did not they came home with me and my husband. We always made sure there was enough food for any unexpected guests. The house was full some years!"

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Nster.com