Decorations are up. Recipes are out. Families are gathering. It’s officially the holiday season. Thanksgiving is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. It’s the time where people take a moment to reflect on their lives and give thanks. Every year people across the country come together to celebrate and participate in traditional holiday activities. They are watching football, carving the turkey, or strolling down memory lane reminiscing about past Thanksgiving gatherings. These traditions are great, but it’s also good to incorporate new traditions to make time together more memorable. If you’re unsure of where to start, take a look at the list below.
- Create a board of gratitude. Before dinner, give each family member a piece of decorative paper and a pen. Tell them to write down something for which they are grateful. When finished, place them on display in a frame or neatly paste them on a poster board. After this, put it on display for all to see just how grateful everyone should be.
- Instead of preparing the traditional turkey dinner, step out of the box and cook a different meal. It doesn’t matter what you eat as long as you’re thankful for the food you receive.
- Have Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch. Many people spend the entire day starving themselves, so they aren’t full for the big meal. However, eating one small special meal before the feast won’t ruin your appetite. You can do this with your immediate family or close friends before the huge gathering.
- After the meal, take a brisk walk around the mall or your neighborhood to burn some calories. This will keep everyone up and active with each other.
- Take some time to remember loved ones who are no longer with you. This may be a painful thing to do, but it’s important to remember those who came before us. The best way to do this is to gather pictures of each loved one and designate a special spot for them. Then, you can decorate the space using festive fall decorations. You can also prepare some of your lost loved ones’ favorite expressions. To add another unique touch, have small note cards pens available to write special notes or memories about them.
- For craft lovers have a designated area where people can create centerpieces for next year’s Thanksgiving or Christmas decorations. Whatever you decide, make it fun and festive for everyone.
- Exchange Christmas ornaments. Have everyone in your family bring an ornament to dinner and give it to someone else. This way, everyone will have a loved one represented in their home for Christmas even if they aren’t physically present.
The holiday season is the time where families emphasize spending time together. No matter what you decide to do, make sure it’s something new that everyone can enjoy. However, if you choose to stick to your customary celebration, be sure it’s centered around love.
Liz Lampkin is a Lifestyle, Love, and Relationships writer. Follow her on social media @Liz_Lampkin.
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