How the Nation Gives Thanks

Thanksgiving is a national holiday, known for its family gatherings, good food, array of entertainment, and historical values. America has celebrated this holiday of thanks for decades. 

There are many traditions for Thanksgiving from turkey dinners, to watching a dog show, to ravaging the local black friday sales. The U.S has been celebrating Thanksgiving for decades, and has not only passed down classic traditions but several new, unique traditions. 

Of course, there is the turkey dinner, the most popular tradition. When it comes to turkey you can oven-bake, deep fry, braise, smoke, grill and slow-cook. With so many options, most families across the country choose turkey as their main dish. 

However, there are times when families choose to switch turkey for food like crab or they make a turducken. A turkey stuffed with a duck that has previously been stuffed with chicken. Alivia Brumfield (11), a student at Fair Grove, says her family eats chicken. 

RayAnn Hupman (11) explained, “I go to Gulf Shores Alabama, almost every year. Instead of having turkey dinners my family and I eat at a restaurant called LuLu’s.” Traveling with family is also popular during Thanksgiving. You can travel to an annual family reunion or go on an adventure away from home. 

“Every year my family will go camping on the week of Thanksgiving,” Helenann Huffman (12) stated. She added that she and her family do this to avoid meeting with distant family and to stay clear of the crowds of Springfield as Black Friday starts up. 

Black Friday is also a commonly-known Thanksgiving activity. Stores across the nation will put a large portion of their inventory up for sale. Black Friday always falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. 

Thanksgiving Day also has a variety of entertainment like the National Dog Show, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and football. 

The National Dog Show is a competition where thousands of dogs compete for Best of Show honors from Kennel Club of Philadelphia. 

Daltyn Dowell (12) shared that his family prepares food while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dowell  explained, “There is a tradition that I want to start with my family in the future. Instead of watching the parade from home each year we will go and watch it in person.” 

There are known to be a few traditions including exercise when it comes to Thanksgiving. There are some families who go on walks after or before dinner and some people really take it the extra mile by running a Turkey Trot. A Turkey Trot is a long distance foot-race on or around the time of Thanksgiving. 

Fair Grove Schools has an event where students serve and entertain Veterans and Senior Citizens in our community. 

While these traditions make the holiday more exciting there is, of course, the reason for the season, giving thanks. Dowell shared, “Before we all eat our big meal we each say something we are thankful for.” Huffman explained, “We will go around the table and say what we’re thankful for before eating.” 

Thanksgiving Day is a time to show your thanks to your family, your friends, the opportunities you have, good food, and everything in your life that you are grateful for.