“Feasts, Family, and Thankfulness: Celebrating the Season!

Thanksgiving is a time to pause, reflect, and embrace gratitude. Whether you’re hosting a grand feast, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying a quiet moment of reflection, it’s a day meant to honor the blessings in our lives. This year, let’s take a deeper look at how to make this Thanksgiving not just memorable, but meaningful.

Thanksgiving 2024 is just around the corner, falling on Thursday, November 28. With only 14 days left until the big day, it’s the perfect time to start planning your celebrations, reflect on what you’re grateful for, and prepare for a season of family, food, and fun.

There are many ways to celebrate, and how you do so can depend on your traditions, preferences, and who you’re spending the day with. Here’s a breakdown of some ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving 2024:

1. Prepare a Traditional Feast

Thanksgiving meals are often centered around a large dinner, typically featuring:

• • Turkey (roasted, smoked, or fried)

• • Stuffing (or dressing)

• • Mashed potatoes with gravy

• • Cranberry sauce

• • Sweet potatoes or yams

• • Green bean casserole or other vegetables

• • Dinner rolls or cornbread

• • Pumpkin pie (and other desserts like pecan or apple pie)

Cookingtogether can be a fun activity that helps create memories. You can also make it a potluck where guests bring their favorite dishes to share.

2. Spend Time with Family and Friends

Thanksgiving is about gathering together, so spend quality time with the people you care about. Whether it’s a big family reunion or a quiet evening with close friends, the goal is to enjoy each other’s company. Activities could include:

• • Sharing what you’re thankful for: Go around the table and have everyone share something they’re grateful for. It’s a meaningful tradition.

• • Playing games: Card games, board games, or even a friendly game of touch football outside.

• • Watching parades or football games: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a popular event in the U.S., and many people also enjoy watching NFL games on TV.

3. Volunteer or Donate

Thanksgiving is also about giving back to those in need. Many people volunteer at shelters or food banks to help provide meals for people who are less fortunate. You can:

• • Serve meals at a soup kitchen or food bank.

• • Donate food, clothes, or other essentials to those in need.

• • Organize a charity drive, such as collecting canned goods or toys for families in need.

4. Reflect on Gratitude

Take a moment to reflect on what you’re thankful for, either individually or as a group. This could be done as a family before dinner, or through a personal practice like journaling or meditating. The holiday is rooted in gratitude, so use it as an opportunity to recognize the blessings in your life.

5. Outdoor Activities

If the weather permits, you might want to take advantage of the outdoors by:

• • Going for a walk or hike to enjoy nature and each other’s company.

• • Playing a game of touch football or another outdoor game.

• • Taking part in a local Thanksgiving 5K run (many communities host charity runs on Thanksgiving morning).

6. Start a New Tradition

If you feel like mixing things up a bit, consider starting a new tradition, such as:

• • Hosting a Thanksgiving movie night, where everyone watches classic films or Thanksgiving-themed movies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

• • Cooking a non-traditional meal, like a Thanksgiving dinner with an international twist, or making a completely vegetarian or vegan feast.

• • Doing a gratitude jar, where everyone writes something they’re thankful for throughout the day, and then reads them aloud after dinner.

7. Take Time for Yourself this Thanksgiving 2024.

If you’re looking for a more low-key celebration, you can also take the day to relax and unwind. Some people enjoy having a quiet day at home, maybe cooking a small meal, reading, or just taking time to reflect.

8. Black Friday (Optional)

If you’re interested in shopping, Thanksgiving 2024 also marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season with Black Friday. While it’s not technically part of Thanksgiving itself, many people like to take part in the sales either online or in stores.