Origins of the feast
Americans may believe that they are celebrating the feast of Thanksgiving to honor the successful autumn harvest of the Mayflower passengers (Pilgrims) who settled into Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. The truth is, however, that the autumn harvest was celebrated well before the pilgrims and has its roots in ancient Greece.
The ancient Greeks celebrated thanksgiving to honor Demeter, the goddess of harvest. in October. The Ancient Greeks even had a thanksgiving parade in mid-November, known as Maemacterion. Instead of Turkeys they would slaughter a black bull and all feast together. The tradition of a thanksgiving procession was started after the October harvest tradition, in 479 B.C. following the battle of Plataea. They would decorate wagons with myrtle boys and the sacrifical bull would be pulled by free youths followed by the head of the Plataea region dressed in military gear.
Later, the Romans, copied the Greeks and honored the grain goddess Ceres. Later, Jews observed Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles in Autumn. There were also English Harvest celebration and other Dutch thanksgiving traditions that the Pilgrims were aware of before traveling to America and copying the feast.
But the truth is, they were merely following a tradition, copied from place to place throughout history and started in Ancient Greece!
In Greece, the Turkey is French
The Greek name for Turkey is French chicken (Galopoula) but in English, Turkey the country and the bird, share the same name to describe the bird that is the central point of any Thanksgiving dinner.
The reason the name Turkey came to represent the fowl used for Thanksgiving is because Europeans incorrectly identified the birds as a type of guineafowl that were thought to typically come from the country of Turkey. The name of the bird they ate became known as “Turkey fowl” or just plane “turkey”. In 1550, William Strickland introduced turkey to England where it was known as the “turkey-cock”.
Where can you celebrate Thanksgiving in Greece?
Αlia brasserie
The hotel has prepared a traditional Thanksgiving Turkey with chestnuts and mashed potatoes, caramelized apples and all the trimmings!
info
Alia brasserie, Arion Resort & Spa is at 40 Apollonos Street, Vouliagmeni, tel 210 8901715, 210 8902000, astir-palace.com, arionresortathens.com. Event kicks off at 6 p.m. and is at 60 euros per person, 25 euros for kids under 12 years.
GB Roof Garden
The hotel has a special family dinner for Thanksgiving at the GB Roof Garden with a view of the Acropolis, Lykavittos Hill and Syntagma Square decked in its Christmas finest. The menu kicks off with creamed corn and goats tea, goes on with pumpkin and of course the core piece which is the Turkey dipped in citrus essence and cranberry source… with, of course, all the trimmings!
info
GB Roof Garden, Grande Bretagne Hotel, A’ Vas Georgiou Street, Syntagma Square, Tel. 210 3330000. Price: 65 euros per person – 25 euros for children under 12 years at 25 euros
La Suite Lounge
A special dinner of Turkey and other traditional meals that one would enjoy if they were in the United States kicking off with pumpkin soup and lots of corn, potatoes and Turkey dipped in cranberry source and gravy. Apple pie and ice cream for the end. Definitely worth giving thanks for!
info
La Suite Lounge, St. George Lycabettus hotel, 2 Kleomenous Street, Athens, tel 210 7416191. Cost: 34 euros per person.
Mama Roux South
The new hot spot of the southern suburbs has a smokin’ hot Thanksgiving menu allowing you to choose your Thanksgiving meal from the food pairing bar menu. Try the low & slow smoked turkey with cranberry sauce. Don’t forget to leave room for the pecan pie and banana ice cream for the end.
info
Mama Roux South is at 26 Lazaraki Street, Glyfada. Tel. 216 7004459. Cost: Thanksgiving menu at 25 euros per person / Thanksgiving menu + Food pairing bar menu at 37 euros per person.
Première
Thanksgiving menu with festive tastes, select wine and a view of the Acropolis that will definitely make you feel grateful at the Première of the Intercontinental hotel. Enjoy the pumpkin soup and all the other dishes surrounding the stuffed turkey with chestnuts and sweet potatoes with cranberry source… For the end it’s chocolate tart with walnuts and ice cream.
info
Première is at the Athenaeum Intercontinental, 89-93 Syngrou Avenue, tel. 210 9206000. Times: 19:30-00:00. Cost: 45 euros per person.
Tudor Hall
The works are offered in this Thanksgiving menu – or if you like – call it an experience! Enjoy the pumpkin soup, the roast beef with mushrooms, salads with pomegranates though we’re not sure that the pilgrims had those. And of course there’s turkey with cranberry source. White chocolate mousse with ginger, cubes of pumpkin and Greek ingredients marry the traditional American notion of Thanksgiving with the Greek idea of the feast.
info
Tudor Hall, King George Hotel, 3 Vas Georgiou Street, Syntagma, tel. 210 3330265. Cost: 55 euros per person – children under 12 pay 20 euros.
Or you can celebrate on Friday, instead of Thursday at Cafe Boheme:
Roast turkey with stuffing, cranberry and orange sauce, roast potatoes, brussel sprouts, turnips, carrots and much more will be the yummy highlights of the night!
And of course… pumpkin pie for dessert!
There is also a vegetarian/vegan option with lentil roast and all the vegetables as traditional dish!
Regular menu: €15/person.
Vegetarian option: €10/person
Red or white wine by the bottle: €12
Bottle of champagne €40.
Serving from 8pm, and onward..!!!
Please RSVP as soon as possible to be sure of a table, as space is limited!
Reservations: 210 3608018
Address: 36 Omiriou Street Kolonaki
In the comfort of your own home!
Astir Palace is inviting guests for a festive Thanksgiving on November 26. Families are invited to come for lunch or dinner and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving menu that includes sweet pumpkin soup, green salad, roasted Turkey and mashed potatoes. Dessert is a sweet tart with caramelized apples and almond crumble with cinnamon sauce scented with Calvados.
Costs 60 euros per person, and 25 euros for children under 12.
Those who would rather host their Thanksgiving dinner at home can have a special meal prepared by the Chefs of Astir Palace at 195 euros, including Christmas Turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce as the centerpiece along with other trimmings including dessert.
Call 210 890 1715 to reserve a table or order a Thanksgiving menu to enjoy in your own home.
