Thanksgiving Family Traditions
By Valene Ayar
With Halloween in our rear-view mirror, it is now time to turn our attention to the holiday season. And of course, the first major holiday that kicks off a season that ends with Yule tides of fun and ringing in the New Year is Thanksgiving. Besides the usual turkey dinner, endless football games, and traditional nap after ingesting that oh-so-delicious turkey with all the fixings, there are a number of other ways to celebrate this chilly November Thursday.
A large majority of the country also partakes in Black Friday festivities (which, every year, seem to begin earlier and earlier in the week); however, while some people absolutely love bargain shopping, it is a hard pass for others. Here are some other ways to commemorate the day that the whole family can enjoy.
Outside the box traditions
Going to the movies after dinner. This activity is top on my list because it was something we did when I was a child and I absolutely loved it. Oftentimes, we would go see a Christmas movie on Thanksgiving (I still vividly remember seeing Tim Allen’s The Santa Claus one Thanksgiving). Best of all, it is almost completely effortless to execute and a great way to allow the digestion process to take place without slipping into a food coma on the couch.
Playing a holiday (or regular) game of Family Feud. What better way to create a family bonding moment than splitting up into groups and going head-to-head in a heated, yet fun, competition? For more information on how to set this game up, simply Google “holiday family feud” or visit the website at the end of the article.
Playing a Thanksgiving trivia game. This may just be my favorite. And if you are anything like me, you know completely random facts spanning a multitude of categories…..and you insufferably look for any opportunity to show off this completely useless skill every chance you get. That reminds me — did you know that the U.S. is not unique and that Thanksgiving-like holidays are celebrated in countries all over the world? For example: Canada, Ghana, India, Japan, Germany, Korea, The Netherlands, Liberia, and China (just to name a few). Notwithstanding the general “gratitude” theme and a large feast, they all call it something different and have their own respective historical and cultural derivations as well as widely varying traditions.
Making holiday crafts. This is one the kiddos will especially enjoy. It is also a great way to keep them quiet and occupied while you prepare dinner or settle in to watch the never-ending stream of football games. Some fun crafts they can do are washi tape pinecone turkeys, pumpkin turkeys, placemat designs and coloring, the good old Thanksgiving cornucopia, and dressing up the family dog like an adorable turkey-spaniel. The possibilities are endless. You may visit Pinterest or do a basic Google search to find more.
Play a Dice Gratitude Game and/or Roll the Dice, Say Something Nice Game. Most families take a moment on Thanksgiving to go around the dinner table and have everyone express what they are grateful for. It is a beautiful tradition, and it is what the holiday is all about. But there are other ways to accomplish that goal that also have a fun spin to them.
Volunteer as a family at a local shelter or soup kitchen. What better way to feel and express gratitude for all of your blessings than to help those less fortunate? This activity is not exclusive to just Thanksgiving; however, if you have not done it before, Thanksgiving is a good day to start. Be sure to call at least 1 week in advance as these places are often teeming with volunteers on Thanksgiving.
Invite a lonely neighbor to dinner. Thanksgiving is a beautiful time to share with family and friends— something we all take for granted. Unfortunately, though, not everyone is so blessed to be invited to a big dinner with those closest to them. Do some investigating before the holiday. Is there a senior citizen who recently lost their spouse and will be eating alone in front of the TV? What about that newly divorced, single mother, who is feeling down in the dumps and simply does not have the time or energy to prepare a Thanksgiving feast? Or the new neighbor who just moved into town for work and can’t go home for the holiday? In all likelihood they have not established any close connections in their new hometown that would warrant an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner. Extend an invitation to someone who could really use it! It would mean more to them than you can possibly know; it will teach the younger family members the power of compassion and it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
If you are not comfortable inviting someone you hardly know into your home, drop off some leftovers and a slice of pie. At the very least, everyone deserves a nice home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving.
These are just a few of the infinite number of ways to fully embrace the holiday and establish new traditions. If you are looking for more, search Google and get lost in the countless others.
Happy Thanksgiving, CN Readers!
Family Feud can be found at www.playpartyplan.com/family-feud-game-questions-and-answers/. Dice Cards and instructions can be found on www.playpartyplan.com website.