As fall begins to shed colorful leaves and the weather becomes crisp, Thanksgiving finally rolls around. Thanksgiving is an American holiday that is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November. Subsequently, students and staff are given time off to celebrate with their families and take part in their unique traditions.
“My family usually has other families from all over the country and we watch football. Sometimes we go apple picking and play football outside,” freshman Thomas Hart said.
Thanksgiving is defined by an expression of gratitude and thankfulness, which families often incorporate into their own traditions. While many students celebrate the holiday in different ways, the meaning behind their traditions is usually the same.
“I run the turkey trot with my mom, which is a 10k,” senior Max Bagshaw said.
The tradition of the Thanksgiving meal comes from the harvest festival that the Pilgrims celebrated after settling in America in the 17th century. It was originally shared with the Native Americans in Massachusetts. Then, years later, Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday. Traditional dishes served are turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie.
“Usually, my mom cooks mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. My whole family comes over and we have a boat-shaped container with gravy in it,” senior Meira Hefter said.
Even though the traditional food is a main focus, football has also become part of the yearly tradition. Usually, six teams play three games on Thanksgiving, which many families gather around to watch.
“My family comes to our house to just eat and watch football,” junior Gary Stevens said.
Even though families celebrate the holiday differently, so do friends. ‘Friendsgiving’ is a popular way to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends. Similar traditions are incorporated regarding food and being grateful for each other.
“My friend group usually has friendsgiving where we all gather at someone’s house and bring over different kinds of food. We also go around the table and express our favorite things about each other,” junior Julia Zucconi said.
