By Kennedy Kearns, Year 13
Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday celebrated every last Thursday in November. It is a time to celebrate family, friends and everything one should be thankful for. The tradition stems from the first Thanksgiving, in which the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together and shared a meal to celebrate peace between the two groups. From then on, the holiday has been celebrated and has been an excuse to bring people together.
One famous event during Thanksgiving, is the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade, an streamed event held in New York City. This year was the 98th annual parade. The parade starts with many balloon animals, artists, and dancers. The most significant part is the Rockettes dance and when Santa comes through as the last performance of the parade. Santa and Mrs. Claus usually ride on their sleigh, closing the event. The arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus signifies the movement into the Christmas season, and the transition from Thanksgiving.
Other important events during Thanksgiving are the annual NFL games. These are played on Thanksgiving night and end when the winning team goes and eats a Thanksgiving dinner with the reporters. This year the Bears played the Lions, which in the end took the win home, beating the Bears 23-20. The Cowboys also had a big game last night, in which they beat the Giants 27-20. These games are important to American culture, as many families have traditions of attending them and watching the players eat dinner as a way to celebrate. The Packers also took a large win last night, winning 30-17 against the Miami Dolphins.
Besides all the events that take place, dinner is the most important part. All families have their own traditions when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. For example, some families defy the traditional route and eat boiled lobster the day of Thanksgiving and have ice cream for breakfast. Others have a traditional dinner with a ton of deserts. On Thanksgiving day, it is common to go to your grandparent’s house, where a lot of time is spent with cousins and family. Additionally, playing card games and catching up are common activities used to kill the hours between the morning and the final feast, which usually happens near the end of the day. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of ham, turkey, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, beef, house rolls, corn on the cob, broccoli salad, and so much more which gets eaten as leftovers for the next month. However, the food does not stop here because there is also dessert. This consists of all different types of pies including pumpkin, pecan, apple and more. As well as apple crisp, pumpkin bars, ice cream, and cookies. The food on Thanksgiving is a highlight of the holiday, and is an indulgent way for families and generations to bond.
Finally, Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and gratitude. As dinner is served, everyone at the table is encouraged to express something they are grateful for. Whether it is their health, family or friends, this simple act deepens the bond between loved ones who decided to celebrate this special day together. Thanksgiving reminds us to pause, slow down and celebrate the abundance of life whilst practicing personalized traditions and overstuffing ourselves with yummy food. Happy Thanksgiving!
