Rose Chalalai Singh traveled to Georgia to prepare a feast that called to mind the banquets depicted by Niko Pirosmani.

And branding can be a powerful way to turn a one-time gathering into a ritual, Parker said. “When something has a name, it becomes easier to remember, talk about and return to,” she said.

The Thanksgiving table is the centerpiece of the holiday. Imagine if this grand tradition were magnified, with nearly 100,000 ...