Thanksgiving Family Traditions

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is rich in both history and tradition, yet unique family traditions are also quite prevalent, as many families have their own way of celebrating. The more traditional things may include baking pumpkin and apple pies and cooking a fabulous meal, or watching television, yet surveys have shown that there are some traditions that are most popular than others.

The National Turkey Federation says that 95% of Americans serve turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Of course there are regional differences as to how the tradition of turkey preparation is carried out. For instance, in Hawaii they enjoy coffee rubbed turkey, while in the New England area they love the salt encrusted turkey, claiming it is an excellent way to hold in the juices. And, of course, in the south they love their deep fried turkey.

The second most often observed of the family traditions is watching football games on Thanksgiving Day; it is said that no Thanksgiving Day is complete without some quality time either watching or tossing the pigskin. It is considered to be as much a part of this holiday as the traditional food offerings. It dates back to 1876 when the first intercollegiate football game championship was held on Thanksgiving Day and has become so popular that some say Thanksgiving is now a holiday that was recognized by the nation in order to get the family together to watch a game of football.

That brings us to another great tradition, which is to watch a parade. This tradition originally started with the first one in 1920, which was put on by the Gimbel’s department store. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade began in 1924 and has been growing ever since, becoming an annual event with bands, floats and balloons. It is now watched by over 46 million people every year both on television and in person along the route.

Next among the popular family traditions is making a wish. Does your family have trouble deciding over who will be tugging on each end of the wishbone from your turkey? If so, then you are not alone, as this tradition goes all the way back to 322 B.C., when the Etruscans did the same, with the one getting the larger piece having their wish granted. This tradition was kept alive by the Romans who took it with them when they took over England, and then the English brought the tradition to this country, thus making it a popular American tradition at Thanksgiving.

And the last, but definitely not the least of Thanksgiving customs is to give thanks. Thanksgiving is all about the giving of thanks and can be shown through attending church services and saying Thanksgiving Day prayers. Saying a prayer before sitting down to enjoy the wonderful meal can also be made into another tradition by allowing a different family member the opportunity to say the blessing each year. Also, in keeping with the spirit of sharing, many Americans volunteer their time at soup kitchens, by serving food and giving companionship to those who are less fortunate.

Just because there are many old family traditions, this does not mean you have to stop with just those. You can start your own family traditions that can be passed on through the years. Anything will work, just as long as it is important to your family and celebrates the meaning of this great holiday.