This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at JCU chapter.
Here are some of our favorite family traditions for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving from our families to yours!
- “Every year my family goes to Georgia, where my dad’s side of the family lives, and we only see them for Thanksgiving. We celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving, since it’s the only time we’re together. We put up the Christmas tree at my grandparents house and then on Thanksgiving we have dinner with everybody (there’s like 30 of us), and after we open Christmas presents. It’s so great being able to see everyone and spend time together!!” —Grace Blanchard
- “Every year we go around the table and say what it is that we are thankful for. However, my favorite part of Thanksgiving with the family has got to be pigging out on dessert after the full turkey dinner. It always ends in a quiet, relaxing night.” —Natalie Bozimowski
- “Even though most of the ‘kids’ are approaching adult age, all of the cousins still sit at the designated kids’ table and it is always much more fun that sitting at the adults’ table.” —Nina Carrino
- “Going to Cleveland! All my mom’s siblings live in that area, and she has 11. It’s always so awesome to see all my cousins who live there. Now that I’m at JCU it’s even better because my family comes to me. And I’m finally used to the six hour drive!” —Mallory Fitzpatrick
- “My favorite family Thanksgiving tradition is when the kids sit down in front of the TV and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while the parents are in the kitchen. The parents sometimes talk us into helping to make the pumpkin pies and we spend a couple hours making those together as a big family.” —Kate Hyde
- “I enjoy spending time traveling with family to wherever we end up on thanksgiving. It may not be all about the parades and cooking every year but at least we get to spend it together.” —Mary Kosanke
- “I like the dinner the best of course, but we also play a game of bingo. It makes my family show their competitive sides and gets pretty intense, but it’s a fun time overall.” —Haley Kovach
- “Every year my family and I serve lunch at Jennings Center for Older Adults. This is the nursing home facility that my uncle works at and my grandma resided for a while. The residents are so thankful and happy all the time. I love going here on holidays because I like talking with them and hearing their stories.” —Rachel Mills
- “Watching the dog show with my family after the parade! My mom makes sticky buns and we sit in our pajamas in the living room. We like to place bets on which dogs are going to win and judge them ourselves! Plus it’s fun to watch my dog bark and whine at all the dogs on tv :)” —Jaymie Pampush