Thanksgiving is a time when reflect and focus on the many things we are grateful for. It means spending time with the ones we love. The holidays often involve traditions and Thanksgiving is no exception. Some traditions are alike while others are very unique. We’ve asked our team to share their favorite Thanksgiving traditions.
Our Thanksgiving Family Traditions
Alex:
My family draws names for Christmas gifts. We also watch the parade and football.
Allison:
We usually go out of town to my mom’s side of the family for Thanksgiving. Our family is really large so we eat all day rather than everyone sitting down together to eat at once, since most everyone comes at different times during the day to visit.
If we stay in town, as we have for the past few years, my family and my husband’s family come to our house for dinner. We do the Drumstick Dash in the morning, watch the parade while cooking and getting ready for the day, and then we eat lots of food once everyone gets there, and it’s tradition with my husband’s family to watch White Christmas after.
Ben:
We typically just eat all day long until we are miserably full.
Daris:
My family’s tradition includes watching the parade in the morning.
Melissa:
My extended family usually goes around the room prior to eating our meal and says what we are thankful for. The newest tradition involves a few family members that go to Super Target Thanksgiving evening for the Black Friday craziness. We call it “Fist Pump Friday!”
Mike Fuller:
My wife’s parents, aunts, uncles, and brother and his family come over to our house for noon meal. Later there is the dreaded group photo.
Mike Westlake:
My mom makes cornspoon bread every thanksgiving (usually any holiday). It’s probably my favorite thing she makes.
Is your Thanksgiving the same year after year? While the turkey is usually the main event, it doesn’t always have to be the only one. Perhaps you need some new traditions to liven things up. Here are a few ideas you can incorporate while celebrating Thanksgiving.
- Serve those less fortunate in your community such as volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating canned goods
- Watch Thanksgiving parades—such as the Macy’s Day Parade
- Get active! Participate in a “Turkey Trot” or some kind of race in your community the morning of Thanksgiving
- Play Games or have craft time
- Eat the dessert first
- Watch football games
- Take a family photo every year
- Write down what you are thankful for and have others read it aloud
- Watch movies or TV shows (Like Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving episodes of Friends)
- Design a family cookbook of Thanksgiving recipes
- Go Black Friday shopping after your meal
- After the meal, decorate the house for Christmas
Thanksgiving is truly a time to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives and appreciate those people around us. Traditions can be a great bonding experience with your family and friends. Get creative and find something that is meaningful to you and your family.
Share some of your traditions with us in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!
