Subscribe To
This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Newsgator
Subscribe with Bloglines

Home
Site Search
Mom's Blog
Frugal Forum
Best Advice
Christmas Stories
Holidays
Holiday Gifts
Family Gifts
Make Play
Your Money
Advice About Money
Frugal Advice
Frugal Living
Frugal Websites
Food
Revive Your Spirit
Advice About Stress
Health and Beauty
Joys of Home
Family Resources
Parenting Tips
New Moms
Protect Your Child
Wisdom
Friendship
Intimate Friendship
Friend Quotes
Love Quotes
Poetry
Travel Advice
Legacy
Mom's Recipes
Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving
Work Online
Newsletter
About Mom
Contact
Links and Blogs
Site Artist
Lifelong Learning

Enter your E-mail Address

Enter your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Letter From Mom.

Thanksgiving Traditions

The best of Thanksgiving traditions is spending time with family and friends. Many other holidays are heavily focused on spending: gift giving, decorating, etc. Thanksgiving is a time of gathering, sharing a meal and giving thanks. It is my favorite holiday. It seems that others agree since Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year! People are willing to travel long distances to be with their loved ones on the fourth Thursday of November.

Many families follow Thanksgiving traditions we believe began on the first Thanksgiving. Other families have created their own traditions for their "Turkey Day" celebration.

Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Thanksgiving dinner recipes are often based on foods we believe the Pilgrims received from the American Indians. The most frequently served item on this traditional dinner menu is a large roasted turkey. Side dishes often include corn and cornbread, sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin pie and other foods that represent those native to the New World.

The centerpiece of most Thanksgiving feasts in the United States is a large roasted turkey, giving the holiday the popular nickname "Turkey Day." Click on the link below to find recipes for Thanksgiving dinner dishes from a variety of turkey recipes, side dishes, and yummy desserts.



Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Thanksgiving Prayers, Poems, Jokes and Verses

The Thanksgiving Tradition of Giving Thanks

Naturally, one of the most common traditions of Thanksgiving Day celebrations is the giving of thanks. Here are a few Thanksgiving Day prayers, poems and Bible verses to help you give thanks on Thanksgiving Day:

Thanksgiving Quotes

Thanksgiving Poems

Thanksgiving Day Prayers

And now for some Thanksgiving Day jokes:

Thanksgiving Jokes

Thanksgiving Decorations

One our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is to have table decorations created by the children. While they are waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven, they can be busy adding to the fun by making place cards, napkin rings and more. Here are a few downloadable pstterns to get them started. Just print and pass them around. Some of the grownups may even want to get involved.

Turkey and Maple Leaf Cutouts

Thanksgiving Napkinholders

What I'm Thankful For Cards

Pumpkin Place Cards

Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

If your family gathering anything like ours, there are family and friends of many ages. Everyone looks forward to the meal that will be shared. Before and after Thanksgiving dinner, however, there is a need for some entertainment. Some people want to watch football, others would like to pop in a movie. Some of us gather in the kitchen to clean up and catch up on family news. The youngest family members may just need some fun activities to help them stay busy.

Here are some printable Thanksgiving acticities and games for the kids:

Thanksgiving Activity Page

Handprint Turkey

Thanksgiving Tale Activity

Thanksgiving Bingo

Thanksgiving History

Some History About Thanksgiving Traditions

According to most historians, the Pilgrims never observed an annual Thanksgiving feast in autumn. In the year 1621, they did celebrate a feast near Plymouth, Massachusetts, following their first harvest. But this feast most people refer to as the first Thanksgiving was never repeated. Even though this harvest feast was never called Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims, it has become the model for the traditional Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States.

Read accounts of this feast as well as Thanksgiving proclamations by William Bradford and President Abraham Lincoln:

What is Thanksgiving?

Origin of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving History

The First Thanksgiving

The Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Trivia

Traditional Presidential Turkey Pardon: Each Thanksgiving Day since 1947, the President of the United States has been presented with three turkeys by the National Turkey Federation. One live turkey is "pardoned" and gets to live the rest of its life on a quiet farm; the other two are dressed for the Thanksgiving meal.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by Macy's Department store. The three-hour event is held in New York City starting at 9:00 a.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day. The parade is best known for its large animal-shaped balloons produced by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.



"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." ~Edward Sandford Martin




Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes


From Thanksgiving Traditions to Advice From Mom Home Page



footer for thanksgiving traditions page