As the Thanksgiving season draws near, many Americans reflect on their blessings, gathering with loved ones over traditional feasts. For Karen and Burmese refugees, however, Thanksgiving holds a unique meaning.
As the Thanksgiving season draws near, many Americans reflect on their blessings, gathering with loved ones over traditional feasts. For Karen and Burmese refugees, however, Thanksgiving holds a unique meaning—a blend of their own traditions of gratitude and the challenges of rebuilding their lives far from their homeland. Their journey and perspective remind us of resilience, community, and the enduring power of gratitude even amidst adversity.
The Karen people, indigenous to Burma (Myanmar), are known for their hospitality, honesty, and peaceful nature. In Karen villages, especially in rural areas, homes often lack doors—a testament to their openness. Guests are welcomed warmly, and sharing food is an integral part of their culture. It is common for Karen families to host visitors without prior notice, emphasizing communal bonds and generosity.
Culturally, Karen people avoid confrontation and make decisions through consensus. Elders or religious leaders often mediate disputes, ensuring conflicts are resolved respectfully and amicably. Displays of anger or loud tones are frowned upon, and sensitive issues are approached delicately to preserve harmony and avoid shaming others.
Public displays of affection are rare among Karen couples, while same-gender friends may comfortably hold hands—a reflection of their close-knit social norms. Traditional greetings are evolving, with handshakes now commonly adopted in interactions.
Karen life took a tragic turn when Burma became embroiled in what David Miliband termed “the world’s longest civil war,” beginning in 1948. This conflict forced thousands of Karen to flee, either as internally displaced persons or as refugees along the Thai-Burma border. A significant number were later resettled in the United States, forming the largest group of Burmese refugees admitted between 2009 and 2019.
The Burmese government’s harsh counterinsurgency strategies, particularly the “Four Cuts” policy, devastated Karen communities. Designed to deprive insurgents of resources like food and intelligence, the policy also caused widespread suffering among innocent civilians. Villages, homes, and farms were destroyed; livestock were slaughtered; and countless lives were uprooted. Many Karen fled to Thailand’s refugee camps, where they endured decades of uncertainty, restrictions on movement, and dependence on international aid.
Resettling in the United States presented Karen refugees with new challenges. Language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliar systems made daily tasks daunting. Many had to learn how to use household appliances, navigate banks, attend appointments, pay bills, and adapt to modern life.
Despite these hurdles, the Karen community has carried its traditions of gratitude into their new lives. For instance, they hold housewarming ceremonies, often inviting a pastor to bless their homes, followed by communal meals. Celebrations of gratitude extend to birthdays, new years, and milestones like vehicle or business dedications.
While Karen refugees have embraced the spirit of Thanksgiving, their tables reflect their own cultural flavors. Instead of turkey and mashed potatoes, you might find rice, chicken or beef, spicy pumpkin curry, fermented fish sauce, and other flavorful dishes. Yet, as they celebrate, their hearts remain tied to loved ones still struggling in Burma or languishing in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border.
Many Karen refugees in the U.S. send financial and material support to those left behind, ensuring that their sense of community transcends borders.
For Karen animists, gratitude takes the form of offerings to spirits, or nats, for blessings on crops and harvests. These rituals involve sacrificing chickens or pigs and sharing meals with the community. For Christians, gratitude is expressed through prayers for a bountiful harvest and offerings brought to pastors as tithes.
Karen and Burmese Christians also observe Christmas with joy and communal spirit, singing carols, exchanging gifts, and gathering for worship services. These festivities highlight their enduring sense of community and hope, even in the face of displacement.
This Thanksgiving, there are many ways to extend kindness to refugees and immigrants in our communities. Simple acts—like offering a smile, being patient in communication, or inviting them to experience an American Thanksgiving—can make a significant impact. Advocating for refugees, helping them find jobs, preparing them for interviews, or volunteering with local resettlement agencies are other meaningful ways to support their journey toward rebuilding their lives.
As Karen and Burmese refugees gather around their tables this Thanksgiving, their gratitude is a testament to resilience and hope. By reaching out and welcoming them into our own celebrations, we can learn from their spirit of community and extend the true meaning of Thanksgiving beyond our own homes.
Let’s make this season one of connection and compassion, one life at a time.
Sam Ngala pastors the Bloomington, Ellettsville, Martinsville and Spencer churches in Indiana Conference.
