Try These 10 Thanksgiving Traditions at This Year’s Feast
By Movieguide® Contributor
Every year for Thanksgiving, families gather around a table and share a meal filled with food and laughter.
It’s also the perfect time of year to start or continue favorite holiday traditions.
“Thanksgiving should be made up of rituals and customs we all remember forever,” said Jordan Stringfellow, the owner of Jordi & CO Events. “Passing on family traditions to our children and sharing them with a table full of blended friends and family is one of the most satisfying things a parent can do.”
READ MORE: HERE’S ONE SIMPLE WAY TO SHARE YOUR GRATITUDE THIS THANKSGIVING
If you want a new tradition to spice up your Thanksgiving, look no further. Below are 10 traditions that you and your family might want to try:
1. Pass around a journal at Thanksgiving: “A favorite Thanksgiving tradition I learned from a client was ‘pass the journal,’” Stringfellow said. “Simply pass a blank journal around the Thanksgiving table, asking all the guests to write at least one thing that they are thankful for. For kids too young to write, have an adult transcribe. Over the years, fill the book with comments and enjoy reading them aloud at Thanksgiving celebrations to come. It is truly wonderful to read how gratitude reflections change over time.”
2. Watch A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING: “It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a family viewing of the timeless cartoon A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING,” Movieguide® said. “…we can still learn many enduring lessons from the Peanuts classic. Whether it’s the importance of gathering together or helping a friend in need, viewers walk away with a deeper understanding of the true meaning behind Thanksgiving.”
3. Create a Gratitude Tree: A gratitude tree is centerpiece with leaves or tags that share what people are thankful for this year. Arrange “beautiful fall stems in a container to add a truly cozy and rustic touch of autumn to any space in your home — then use kraft paper, a paper punch and some twine to create the tags,” Good Housekeeping suggests.
4. Volunteer on Thanksgiving: “Whether you work at a local soup kitchen, volunteer to serve a church supper [or even run a Turkey Trot, which typically benefits a local charity], the rewards are great and wide-reaching for labors that are easily performed,” Stringfellow said.
5. Give kids a job they do each year: Kristen Gallo, from New York, declared, “When I was younger, my mom would always let my brother and I set the table on Thanksgiving. I’m not sure how great it came out, but I remember feeling so proud when all the grownups would make a fuss over how nice the table looked.” You could also assign kids a recipe and let them try their hand at it each year.
6. Go Around the table and have each person share one thing they’re thanking God for: This tradition keeps our focus on things above, rather than earthly things. “The more we thank God, the more we understand that although our earthly happiness comes and goes, God will always supply a better form of joy following His Will. Gratitude paired with the right direction helps in keeping us grounded on what truly matters,” said Christian Net.
7. Go for a family walk: “Take a moment to soak it all in with a walk through your local park or along nearby nature trails. It’s also a great way to help digest all that Thanksgiving food!” said The Pioneer Woman.
8. Have a special breakfast: “Every Thanksgiving morning, we sit down to a family breakfast of homemade pancakes,” Denise Mackey, from Rochester, New York, said. “We didn’t mean for this to turn into a tradition, but over the years, it’s seemed to happen! It sets a nice pace for the day — as opposed to our usual mornings, which are spent running around!”
9. Leave room at the table: “What’s the point of a beautiful Thanksgiving table and delicious food if you can’t share in it?” Stringfellow explained. “Extend an invitation to an elderly neighbor whose family can’t visit or a coworker who’s far from home — and if they opt to stay home, take them a plate.”
10. Play a games as a family: This could be anything from a card game to a board game to a game of football in the back yard. “A friendly game of football is sure to bring your family together, or at least give you something to talk about for years!” Parade said.
No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, the holiday is the perfect time to reflect on everything we have to thank God for. Take a moment during the busyness of family, cooking and eating to express your gratitude to God.
