For many, Thanksgiving is one of those special times of the year to be surrounded by the people you are most grateful for. Some may celebrate with their small, immediate family, some have large elaborate dinners with family from across the country, while others celebrate a "Friendsgiving" surrounded not by family, but friends. However, and whomever you celebrate with doesn't take away from the fact that somewhere during this feast of delicious food, there is tradition.
Thanksgiving in itself has a very traditional menu of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and pie... lots of pie! Some other unique traditions have been introduced during Thanksgiving and here are just a few!
"We go bowling, every Thanksgiving after dinner."
"Our family plays Pictionary on a giant dry erase board. We have teams of people who create the themes and write them on the paper slips then a second team plays. My Aunt regulates the event usually, but just because she is bossy (haha)."
"We go bowling after dinner!"
"My husband eats a piece of pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving morning..."
Whether it is bowling, playing games, or eating some pie... tradition is tradition and that keeps a family together and looking forward to the next holiday!
In my family, my grandfather's pumpkin chiffon pie, and lemon meringue pie are the biggest Thanksgiving tradition! My grandfather insists on making the lemon meringue pie, but has since passed the pumpkin chiffon pie baton down to me. I enjoyed learning and watching his every precise move in the kitchen, to master the tradition!
If your family doesn't have a tradition or you would like to start one yourself try this fun activity! Color popsicle sticks a few different colors (red, blue, green, brown, orange, purple). When you are finished with Thanksgiving dinner, about to eat dessert, take the time to go around the table and each person picks one popsicle stick.
Once everyone has chosen a stick, go around a second time, and each person says what they are grateful for based on the corresponding color.
Red- I am grateful for (person).
Blue- I am grateful for (place).
Green- I am grateful for (moment).
Brown- I am grateful for (food).
Orange- I am grateful for (thing).
Purple- I am grateful for (choice: person, place, moment, food, or thing).
I will be introducing this popsicle stick activity at my family Thanksgiving. It will be a nice reminder what the day is for.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, eat lots of turkey, indulge in a glass of wine, and cherish these moments with your friends and family, because that is really what it is all about.
Happy Thanksgiving!
