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Thanksgiving TraditionsThe 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 Dinner RecipesThanksgiving 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." Second only to the turkey, people hunt for potato recipes for the Thanksgiving table. You will find just what you need at one of my other websites, Best Potato Recipes. I also have a website that celebrates my home state of Minnesota. Of course I've included many of our favorite Minnesota Recipes. I have a few of my family's favorite recipes on the Mom's Best Recipes page and you might get some great ideas on the Homemade Food Recipes pages.
Thanksgiving Prayers, Poems, Jokes and VersesThe Thanksgiving Tradition of Giving ThanksNaturally, 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 DecorationsOne 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 Activities for KidsIf your family gathering is 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
Thanksgiving HistorySome History About Thanksgiving TraditionsAccording 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? Thanksgiving TriviaTraditional 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 |
