Thanksgiving is one of America's most popular holidays. It's a chance for families and friends to come together to express their thankfulness and to spend time together. Many different families hold a variety of Thanksgiving Day traditions. There are a few that almost everyone has in common, and some are lesser known. Following is a list of some popular traditions and a few that you might consider incorporating into your next Thanksgiving Day celebration.
Thanksgiving Dinner
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Of course, the most popular Thanksgiving tradition is Thanksgiving dinner. Families and friends gather around the table to eat popular Thanksgiving foods like turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green-bean casserole, and pumpkin and apple pies. There are a lot of people who don't adhere to these traditional foods. Some have their own traditions, and others vary what they eat every year. Whatever is on the menu, Thanksgiving dinner is usually a central piece of Thanksgiving celebrations.
Breaking the WishboneThe wishbone is the Y-shaped bone that is found in the breast of the turkey. In this tradition, two people hold opposite branches of the wishbone and pull. It is said that a wish is granted for the person who ends up with the bigger piece. According to Marcia Davis of knoxnews.com, this tradition is many centuries old and may have been started by ancient Etruscans who held birds to be sacred. There are companies that produce synthetic wishbones for those who don't want to use a real turkey bone.
Food DrivesMany individuals, community groups, and religious organizations organize food drives around Thanksgiving. People are encouraged to drop various foods off at a specified location. The food can then be used to provide a Thanksgiving dinner or general food supplies to those who can't afford them.
Thanksgiving Day ParadesEvery year in New York City, there is a Thanksgiving Day parade, sponsored by Macys. This parade features floats, giant balloons, marching bands, and performers. The floats are populated by celebrities and politicians, and the giant balloons are made in the likenesses of various cartoon characters as well as other famous symbols and characters. Many people venture into New York to watch the parade in person, while others gather around televisions to watch them from home.
Many other cities, like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles host their own Thanksgiving Day Parades every year. These parades are similar in arrangement and style to the parade in New York. There are also many small towns that have parades on Thanksgiving Day.
Expression of ThankfulnessThanksgiving Day celebrations usually feature some form of an expression of thankfulness. One popular tradition is to have everyone in attendance share one thing that they are thankful for. Another expression of gratitude that is common comes in the form of a prayer or toast. In this situation, one person offers their thoughts on friends, family, and thanksgiving.
Indian Corn and the Horn of PlentyCorn was one important part of the survival of the early American colonists. Native Americans were the ones who showed the settlers how to plant, harvest, and prepare corn. It's common to see Indian corn hanging on walls and doorways during Thanksgiving season as a reminder of that fact.
The Horn of Plenty is another popular Thanksgiving icon that dates back to the 5th Century BC. It symbolizes abundance and is also known as the cornucopia, the harvest cone, and the Horn of Amalthea.
Football
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One of America's favorite sports gets a huge boost on Thanksgiving. There are usually multiple NFL games aired throughout the day. Traditionally, the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving, though not always against each other. There are several popular college football rivalry games that are hosted on Thanksgiving as well.
Flag and touch football are popular variations of professional-style football that are often played on local sports fields and in backyards on Thanksgiving.
You could organize a flag- or touch-football tournament as part of your Thanksgiving celebration. Organize teams, hand out prizes, and invite friends and family to come play or watch.
Get Creative
You can add your own personal touch to your Thanksgiving by coming up with some of your own traditions. Find creative ways to tell friends and family that you're grateful for them. For example, you could set up a box in which you and your family can drop anonymous compliments. Whatever it is you come up with, make sure you pass it on to your children and grandchildren, so that it can be a longstanding and unique family tradition.
You can share your Thanksgiving celebration with others by combining your Thanksgiving dinner with that of a friend's or by preparing a meal for a family less fortunate than your own.