Thanksgiving is a truly special time. It’s one of America’s most beloved traditions, naturally bringing a sense of togetherness among families, friends, and neighbors from all walks of life.
The first celebration happened back in the early 17th century at the end of the fall harvest. The original theme was simple: celebrating a good harvest and giving thanks for the year’s blessings with a big feast. Today, the main reason for the gathering hasn’t changed, but some traditions have adapted, and wonderful new customs have been added to the celebration.
Ready to explore some classic Thanksgiving traditions that can make your family’s celebration fun and memorable?
Keep reading!
America’s Classic Thanksgiving Traditions
The Feast
The most popular symbol of Thanksgiving is, of course, the feast. After all, aren’t we all a little happier and kinder when we share a delicious meal?
The feast is a representation of the abundance we’ve received throughout the year. It’s filled with traditional food, most popularly Turkey with stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes.
For dessert, most tables feature classic apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie.
Regional Variations: Unpacking America’s Thanksgiving Plate
While the turkey is a fixture on nearly every table, one of the most fascinating aspects of Thanksgiving traditions is how the main menu changes across the United States.
Your Thanksgiving table tells a cultural story rooted in regional history and local produce.
- The Northeast & Midwest: Classic Comfort. These regions often stick closest to the historical narrative, emphasizing rich, heavy comfort foods. You’ll frequently find sausage or oyster stuffing, creamy green bean casseroles, and lots of mashed potatoes. In that sense, the focus is often on traditional starch and dairy.
- The South: Spice, Smoke, and Sweetness. Travel south, and the menu shifts dramatically. The turkey might be smoked or deep-fried. Southern sides often incorporate cornbread dressing (instead of bread stuffing), candied yams with marshmallows, and collard greens. Moreover, the dessert table gains regional classics like pecan pie and sweet potato pie.
- The West Coast: Fresh and Fusion. On the West Coast, the meal often leans toward fresh, local, and sometimes non-traditional ingredients. You might see unique, herb-crusted turkeys, roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, and seasonal salads. Consequently, the overall meal often feels much lighter.
The Wishbone Game
Breaking the wishbone is a fun, lighthearted way to celebrate Thanksgiving, especially among Little Ones.
The wishbone is a Y-shaped bone easily found once the roasted turkey is mostly gone. The tradition consists of two people holding each side of the bone and making wishes.
Once they pull it apart, the person who gets the biggest half is said to have their wish granted.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual event in New York City, featuring incredible marching bands and enormous balloons that float high above the skyscrapers.
The parade is a stunning spectacle that lasts about three hours. If you don’t live near NYC, watching it on TV is still one of the most famous Thanksgiving traditions in the U.S.!
Thanksgiving Day Football
Is there a better way to burn some calories from that Thanksgiving dinner than by playing football?
This tradition is a wonderful way to build a sense of partnership while engaging in a fun, competitive game. It’s a great opportunity for kids to socialize and a good way to gather everyone for a friendly match!
Pass Down a Family Recipe—Or Make a New One
The Thanksgiving feast is full of delicious dishes, and passing down a family recipe is a lovely way to create your own personal tradition.
It’s usually easy to find a special dish our ancestors used to make, but if not, feel free to use your creativity to make new recipes and start a new tradition yourselves.
In addition, it’s a fun and supportive way to gather family and kids to work on the food preparations together.
Thanksgiving Traditions of Service and Giving Back
At the heart of Thanksgiving is the concept of abundance and gratitude. For our Little Ones, the best way to grasp these ideas is through active participation in traditions that focus on others. This is a perfect way to introduce social-emotional learning, fostering empathy and community spirit.
New Tradition: The Gratitude Gathering
Before the feasting begins, establish a Gratitude Gathering. This doesn’t have to be a formal circle; it can happen while you’re setting the table or waiting for the turkey to finish.
Instead of simply saying what they are thankful for, challenge your family to list things they are grateful for that day, using a specific theme:
- For your child: “Name three things your body helped you do today.” (Run, laugh, hug.)
- For your new parent friend: “Name two people who helped you this week.”
Write these down on small pieces of paper and place them in a jar. In other words, you are making the abstract concept of gratitude tangible and creating a keepsake you can revisit next year.
Traditions of Service
Expand the idea of abundance by making a tradition of service. It’s never too early to teach your child about giving back, even if they are only observing the actions of others.
- The Food Bank Tradition: Before your big grocery trip, work together as a family to choose items for a food bank donation. If your child is old enough, let them decorate the donation box. This activity demonstrates how easy it is to share our plenty with others.
- A Family Clean-Out: Thanksgiving is a great reminder to clear out closets before the winter. Before the rush of new holiday gifts, make a tradition of gathering gently used toys and clothes to donate. Specifically, this teaches your Little One that their belongings can have a second life helping another family.
Consequently, by making these small acts of giving a central part of your holiday, you are creating lifelong memories while instilling the core values of community and empathy in your family.
Final Thoughts on Lasting Traditions
Keeping these Thanksgiving traditions is an excellent opportunity to bring old history to life and teach your young ones about the importance of gratitude, sharing, and enjoying the love of people around us.
Are you ready to create a memorable Thanksgiving feast for your family? Don’t forget to check some suggestions of healthy food for kids in our blogpost!
