Thanksgiving is a time filled with delicious food, lots of laughter and family traditions. For decades, people have done these same traditions every year like clockwork. Now, it’s time to spice up your Thanksgiving and do something different. Whether that be implementing a new food into the menu or buying a new board game, there are a bountiful number of activities that have the potential to become Thanksgiving traditions. It’s time to try something new and revamp your family’s traditions.
Baking may seem like a cliche family activity, but I think it’s wildly underrated. Who wouldn’t want to bake a delicious treat and then eat it with the satisfaction of knowing that you created it? It’s a much more rewarding experience than just going to your local bakery. Whether it’s from a box or homemade, the outcome is still the same, happy people with happy stomachs. What makes it even better is that everyone can get involved, and if you have younger children in your family, they can be in charge of a simple task such as icing cupcakes or putting sprinkles on desserts. My personal favorite is anything with pumpkin in it, so this Thanksgiving, try making chocolate chip pumpkin bread or anything that satisfies the entire family!
In my family, the game, Dominoes, is usually at the front and center of every Thanksgiving. Personally, this is not my favorite game, but it definitely makes Thanksgiving interesting, especially when we are all desperately trying to beat one another. Games, of any magnitude, are the perfect way to spend time with your family while also challenging one another. If you’re looking for games that are not like your typical Monopoly or Twister, try Don’t Make Me Laugh or Codenames. These two games are fun and will definitely make Thanksgiving game night even better. If your family is big on games and you’re looking for more, check your local retail store!
Every Thanksgiving is unique in its own way, and it’s important to capture that, but not just on Instagram. Instead of relying on Facebook to remember all of the memories that were made during Thanksgiving, create a Thanksgiving photo album each year! Not only is this perfect for the crafty people in your family, but this is an incredible way to truly remember every simple, yet beautiful moment. Prior to Thanksgiving, run to your local Hobby Lobby or Michaels and collect all necessary materials. For the people who don’t want to buy a disposable or state-of-the-art camera, don’t worry because a smartphone will do just fine! No matter where you are on Thanksgiving, take pictures of everything, even the moments that are not picture-worthy. By the end of the trip, you will have an amazing photo album that you and your family can reminiscence on every year.
Traditions do not need to stay exactly the same every year, in fact, traditions should be enhanced because change is a good thing. This Thanksgiving, bake something new or tune into your crafty side and as Eric Samuel Timm says, “Overeating at Thanksgiving is a case in point. It’s a national tradition.”