Thanksgiving traditions vary around the United States, but one thing remains central: it will involve food. 

Whether those who celebrate travel to be with family, are the dedicated hub for their family to come to, or choose to keep the affair intimate with local family and friends, Thanksgiving has come to be synonymous with family as well as food.

In what can only be described as the ‘quintessential American meal’ Thanksgiving food usually consisted of turkey, potatoes (sweet and savory), greens (green beans and brussel sprouts come to mind), stuffing, ham, mac and cheese, and of course pie – the most famous flavor on the table is pumpkin. 

Food has always been at the center of Thanksgiving. As most of us know, this holiday was born out of a fable that consisted of Pilgrims and those Native to the country. While it was once hailed as a day of peaceful prosperity shared between two different cultures, we’ve also come to understand that perspective is everything. Many who choose not to celebrate instead donate funds to local tribes and practice grateful remembrance for those lost in the pursuit of the land that we all live on. 

Many other folks who do celebrate also donate funds, and food, to various causes and charities close to their hearts. One national tradition that has come about in the last several decades is giving back to your community by donating a Thanksgiving meal to a local food shelter or family. A lot of people need people to donate a dinner. 

Everybody has different traditions and highlighting both my family’s traditions and what other people do for this holiday is a great way to celebrate the vast diversity of people’s experiences for this holiday.

For Thanksgiving, I usually go to my aunt and uncle’s house and the rest of the extended family is there. Either spending Thanksgiving, my birthday, or both with my family.  We play games, eat snacks, talk about people’s lives, eat dinner and dessert, and open presents from the family.

In some households families eat their meal early in the day in order to enjoy games, those games could be of the card or board variety or the NFL game or other games that air on Thanksgiving every year.

Emily Behren’s, a freshman at Highline, said, “We have family over and cousins, as a family tradition, play ping-pong together.”

Our modern era of television and movie streaming services also allows Thanksgiving traditions to emerge around media consumption. 

Movie and TV marathons revolving around the turkey-centric holiday are likely to be found on many television screens on Thanksgiving Day. People love watching movies with friends and family. Whether it’s the Hallmark Channel, a FRIENDS Thanksgiving episode marathon, or something totally outside of the box, there is nothing quite like taking part in a media binge while eating great food.

“Waking up early and watching the Macy’s Day Parade is a Thanksgiving tradition for me and my family,” said Highline student Bri Maxted. “And eating cinnamon rolls,” they added.

If folks aren’t in the mood to stay home, another popular way Americans consume media on the holiday is by going to the movies. Disney’s “Wish” comes out on Thanksgiving Day if anyone is in the mood for a family-friendly flick!

“It’s an opportunity to think about all the things you’re thankful for in your life,” Maxted said.

So, no matter how you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, at its core, is a time to express gratitude and appreciation for the prosperity in our lives, as well as helping others become more prosperous in whatever ways we can. 

Everybody has different ways of celebrating Thanksgiving (and some people don’t celebrate it at all) and I just wanted to tell the differences between people’s traditions. 

It doesn’t matter what you do for Thanksgiving. I hope you have a good holiday season. Enjoy good food, time with family, time-honored traditions, and of course thankfulness during this abundant season.