When Thanksgiving Is Celebrated Latino Style, Here’s What to Expect

When Thanksgiving is celebrated in a Latino family, you can be sure that the day will include extended family, lots of laughter and enough food to feed 444 hungry soccer players. Put a Latina Mom in charge of the festivities and Thanksgiving Day is guaranteed to be a smile-filled occasion, featuring dishes made from the heart and diverse traditions. No matter the home or country of origin, Moms know that there will always be funny and heartwarming moments that make the celebration uniquely their own. Here are the top signs that you are a Latina Mom hosting Thanksgiving:

1. All guests have been told that the party starts one hour earlier than it actually does so that they arrive on time.  
2. The words “¡Feliz Día del Pavo!” have been joyfully said to you in greeting at least 15 times. 
3. Spanglish is the official second language of the day.
4. You have a Tío who’s in charge of keeping everyone entertained with chistes. 
5. The kids are being spoken to in Spanish, but they only reply in English.
6. Tu Abuelita is in the kitchen using a calling card (you hope) to phone relatives in a Latin American country.
7. You’re proud that the food on the table represents the two cultures in your family.
8. There is an English-only dad stuck in your family room that is in desperate need of a translator. 
9. You just ran out of tamales. Again.
10. Most of your desserts called for Dulce de Leche, so you stocked up on Nestlé® La Lechera®. 

Another great way to make the holiday your own is to start a brand-new family tradition. Treat your family and out-of-town guests to a day-after Thanksgiving breakfast featuring a Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Rolls. Try this special Rollos de Canela recipe created by Latina celebrity chef Pati Jinich for Nestlé® La Lechera®. Remember to allow time for your cinnamon roll dough to rise before baking!