(November 15, 2012) — Every year, early on Thanksgiving morning, the smell of turkey roasting in the oven floats through many homes in this country. Some add special culinary touches unique to their families and culture. English teacher Mary Mardirosian said she keeps herself busy by preparing a variety of salads and dishes ranging from potato salad to dolma, an Armenian food many are fond of. Thanksgiving is an especially important holiday for Mardirosian because it is also the day that her father and late mother got engaged many years ago. Her mother used to host Thanksgiving dinners in her home and invited the whole family to celebrate. “Thanksgiving means a great deal to me because it meant so much to my parents, and the traditions and values that they celebrated are things I want to instill in my own children,” Mardirosian said. Mardirosian continues the family tradition by taking on the role of hosting the dinners and preparing the food in her own home. Sophomore Eric Supangan, on the other hand, celebrates Thanksgiving at his aunt’s home. The gathering consists of not just immediate family but also distant relatives. His aunt makes turkey and a couple of different dishes for her guests. Supangan and his relatives all appreciate the wonderful quality of the food they are served. “The food’s great. It’s amazing,” Supangan says. “I get stuffed every time.” He then laughs and says, “I always go for thirds, not seconds.” Supangan said he enjoys the holiday greatly, as it gives him the opportunity to have a nice meal with family, share memories and bond. Junior Mariam Grigoryan’s Thanksgiving dinners are a bit different from others. Just as other families do, Grigoryan’s mother hosts a big gathering at her home and makes many dishes for her guests. However, as a vegetarian, Grigoryan does not eat the turkey her mother prepares for her relatives. Instead, Grigoryan prefers to eat other foods, such as a variety of different salads and mashed potatoes. “Even though I don’t eat meat, everything is still the same,” Grigoryan says. “We all bond and have fun together.” In contrast to Grigoryan’s meat-free Thanksgiving, every year a couple of family friends and relatives gather at senior David Khachatrian’s home to celebrate. Khachatrian’s family converse with one another and make toasts for their children’s health over a meal prepared by Khachatrian’s father. An ongoing Thanksgiving tradition in Khachatrian’s family is the pumpkin soup that his father always makes. Khachatrian’s father also makes the turkey by putting a tiny chicken inside it and placing the stuffing outside the turkey. “Thanksgiving is one of the best times to catch up with friends and family and enjoy each other’s company, since we’re normally too busy to be able to see each other,” Khachatrian says.