Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving traditions are on everyone's mind as the holidays approach. Thanksgiving traditions are the events leading up to and during the day that make you remember the years gone by and the years yet to come. People remember loved ones that shared the same traditions and wonder if the traditions will be upheld in future years and generations. Thanksgiving traditions can be as simple as a recipe made years after year or more complex like and after dinner activity.

A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner usually includes a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, a vegetable, and gravy. The traditions can vary in the recipes that are used or the cooking method. Turkeys can be soaked in brine, roasted, and even deep fried. The variations in other dishes for Thanksgiving dinner are to numerous to go into detail but you get the picture. The recipes and foods included in Thanksgiving dinner are a tradition within themselves.

Another popular Thanksgiving tradition is drawing names for holiday gifts. In many large families it is impossible for people to buy gifts for everyone in the family. Instead they choose a secret Santa tradition where names are places in a hat or bag and drawn by each family member. Generally a price limit is set or some other rules may be set.

Thanksgiving Day television, enough said. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a tradition since it started in 1924 and a great way to start the morning. Or if preferred you can watch The Thanksgiving Day Parade from Detroit. Around noon the football games will begin, with NFL games starting about 12 PM EST, 4 PM, and 8 PM. Christmas movies such as "Elf", "Snow Buddies", "Jingle All the Way", and "The Santa Clause" generally start playing Thanksgiving evening as well.

A common after dinner Thanksgiving tradition revolves around the Christmas tree. Decorating the family Christmas tree is an after dinner tradition that is followed by many families.

The kids can hang the ornaments while the adults string cranberries and popcorn as they reminisce about the family members and holidays that have passed.

No matter what Thanksgiving traditions your family follows there are no right or wrong traditions. Being grateful for what you have, enjoying the time spent with your family, and passing those things down to your children are what matters most about any holiday traditions.