My family is a big ‘tradition’ family. We always love the holidays and can always find an excuse to make a new tradition. To me, the food is just one piece of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is so much more than just the food. It’s about hosting and welcoming people into your home – whether it is family or someone who you’ve reached out to so they feel included and supported – it’s about fun stories and bonding over new memories.
It can sometimes feel stressful to host Thanksgiving (or any meal for that matter) so I wanted to remind everyone to put that stress to the side and recognize that things don’t have to be perfect. The turkey could burn, the food could be cold, drinks could spill, etc. BUT it’s more important to focus on the people, the memories, and just being together. For that reason, I thought I would shift away from the food for a moment and focus on some easy, fun traditions that you could start at your Thanksgiving table this year to make the day about more than the food:
- Watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade! I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen while we had the parade on in the background. There’s something exciting about seeing everyone in their coats/hats/mittens, hearing the music, and seeing all of the balloons. It makes people smile and it is fun to watch! It is a turning point in the year for me where it really begins to feel like the holiday season! This year I am super excited because I will actually be celebrating Thanksgiving in NYC and seeing the parade!
- Ask everyone to share one thing they are thankful for at the table. This doesn’t have to be stressful! It can be as simple as being thankful for family, warm food, etc. BUT it can be really fun to hear more detailed descriptions because it helps you bond with your family and friends. For example, this year, I am really thankful that I have created a platform to be able to share my thoughts around food and entertaining – my family doesn’t really know that I’ve been doing this so it can be a really nice way to start conversation and have people ask questions about your life. Kids can join in also (although I often hear my nieces and nephews say they are thankful for pie!)
- Go on a post-meal walk. It is really nice to get some fresh air after all the food. And it is fun to walk around and look at holiday decorations and reflect on the meal. I’m not super active but this is actually something I really look forward to each year because we do it together!
- Do a puzzle or Game! I think it is so fun to introduce a new game after eating. We have been really into “Wavelength” (linked my amazon page) and “decrypto.” Games and puzzles can be a fun way to start conversation or get to know people at the table.
- Share a Thanksgiving story around the table. This can be a really fun way to reflect on past years, laugh, cry, and most importantly bond with the people around you. This can be vulnerable, funny, or simple! For example, I think about the first Thanksgiving that my sisters spent with their in-laws and I spent with my parents. I went from a huge Thanksgiving every year to spending it with only three people – my mom, my dad, and myself. This was a huge mindset change but it was also delightfully different than other years and it was so special to spend the time with my parents.
I hope this gives you some fun and special ideas to start at your Thanksgiving this year! I’m wishing you all a very very happy Thanksgiving. Let me know in the comments if there are any traditions you do with your family that I can steal and bring to my Thanksgiving this year!
xoxo, LL
Little Libbie 
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