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Thanksgiving Traditions
Have dinner outside!
Thanksgiving dinners are almost always indoors and around a dinner table. This year try something new if the weather allows and set the table outside! Picture this: cool weather, leaves on the ground, warm blankets, string lights, and light music. Sounds pretty beautiful to me!
Share what you’re most thankful for around the table!
The holiday season usually involves a good amount of event planning. We’ve sorted out details and decorations, prepared food and table settings, and planned everything out perfectly. In the busyness of it all, it’s easy to forget the most important part of thanksgiving: being thankful!
Bake Fall / Thanksgiving-themed treats!
If baking pies, cakes, fritters, crisps, and cookies isn’t something you do frequently, it can be something you do for a special occasion. There are also oven-ready options that would get the job done! It’s a fun chance to let the kids get involved as well.
Host Friendsgiving!
During the holiday season, people usually make plans to celebrate with their families. Friendsgiving is a thanksgiving-inspired celebration among friends. It’s a nice treat to add to your agenda! It’s a good way to ensure you get a chance to celebrate with all the people you love.
Give a gift as a way to say “Thank You!”
Thanksgiving, and the month of November in general, is a great opportunity to give gifts “just because.” Gifts are a classic way to express your gratitude for another person.
Bring out an old family recipe!
It’s nice to have certain things that are staples for every family gathering. Recipes are one of the best ones to bring out for Thanksgiving dinner.
Instead of napping – go for a walk!
I don’t know about you but I like to sleep. I like it a lot. And thanksgiving day naps are extra special to me. If you can resonate with that feeling, this year, I want to challenge you to choose to be conscious! Enjoy the people, enjoy the food, enjoy the time. Sleep later!
Say “thank you” face-to-face!
The thanksgiving season gives us so many opportunities to be conscious about showing gratitude for others.
Split the wishbone!
If turkey is truly the main dish at your thanksgiving dinners, you have to split the wishbone! Two people grab opposite ends of the bone and pull until it breaks. Whoever gets the bigger end, gets a wish. It’s just what you do!
Donate to a food pantry!
Food banks help our communities so much by providing food to food-insecure households. They serve with the help of volunteers and donations. This is a perfect opportunity to consider those who might be less fortunate in this season.
Thanksgiving Traditions
Put something new on the dinner table!
In addition to having classic family recipes around the table, it’s also nice to have something new every once in a while. Some of my favorite memories around the holidays are those where I helped a family member make something new!
Let the kids help out in the kitchen!
There’s a chance it could be messy and overstimulating. But if you’re patient and prepared to delegate certain parts of the process to your child, they’d probably love the chance to be involved!
Have an intimate family breakfast!
Use a small simple intimate breakfast as an opportunity to be reflective and practice stillness.
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade!
The Macy’s thanksgiving day parade is a 3-hour special and it’s one of TV’s oldest annual traditions. The parade includes inflatable character balloons, floats, marching bands, and performances.
Say grace!
We thank each other. Let’s not forget to thank God as well.
Have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner!
I say this knowing traditional Thanksgiving dinners can look different for every household and every ethnicity. Keep your traditions intact!
Thanksgiving Traditions
Drink something warm outside!
Drinking something warm wrapped up in a blanket on a cool night is super relaxing! Have a warm cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate and give yourself some time to be still.
Write what you are grateful for!
Even if you don’t have a chance to share it verbally with others, take some time out to personally reflect and think about the things that have meant the most to you.
Read Fall and Thanksgiving-themed books with the kiddos!
Kids love storytime. Here are some thanksgiving book recommendations: How To Catch A Turkey, I am Thankful, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves.
If you’re not hosting, help out in the kitchen or set the table!
Sometimes hosts get overwhelmed when they’re doing everything on their own. My encouragement to you is to do everything you can to get involved and help out where you can. Involving yourself in the process gives you a chance to be present, to connect, and to actively participated.
Create your own centerpiece!
We love centerpieces here! They’re a hallmark of our tables. Although getting a store-bought centerpiece can be great, it’d be really nice to see what you can come up with for your table.
Have everyone write what they are grateful for on a pumpkin!
This could be a cute entry idea! As everyone starts coming in, have your guests write down things that they are grateful. During dinner, or at the end of the night, you can share the list of things to be grateful for.
Give out Thanksgiving favors!
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, it would be really nice to give your family and friends something that they can take home with them! Give them something they can appreciate or hold unto or simply remember.
Do some crafts with the kids!
Decorations can be one of these crafts and it would take care of two things on this list at once! (I feel like all the to-do people out there can appreciate that!) But also giving the kids chances to draw, color, paint, and create is something you should definitely squeeze in some time for.
Play family games!
My sister is one of the go-to people when it comes to identifying and creating holiday games. First, they fill in the time quite nicely. They give everyone a chance to have fun and compete with each other. And games, make for pretty good pictures and stories as well.
Volunteer in your community!
There are so many opportunities we have to make a positive difference and volunteer our time, energy, and resources to the community around us. The Thanksgiving season gives some truly special chances to volunteer at pantries, shelters, and more.
Make your own decorations!
This is a family-friendly idea the kids could really appreciate. Sitting down for a craft can be really relaxing if you let it. Decorations give the holiday a festive touch, but home-made decorations? They add a personal one!
Invite friends that are alone for the holiday!
If it wasn’t for the season of life I’m in right now, I likely would not have thought to add this. Friends who are single, who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, and friends who are just away from their families could really benefit by being welcomed.
What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? Leave a comment below!
Did you enjoy this post? Here are 38 Heartwarming Things To Do In Fall!
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