Thanksgiving season, a time to gather with loved ones, celebrate, give thanks for many blessings, and, of course, eat is upon us once again.
A national holiday widely celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, it began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. It falls on Thursday, Nov. 25 this year (2021).
However, 17 other countries like Canada, Grenada, and Liberia also celebrate their own version of thanksgiving. The traditions may be different, but the underlying sentiment of all these holidays is the same: it’s a chance to spend time with friends and family and reflect on what’s most important in life.
The traditional American Thanksgiving meal includes turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, and pumpkin pie. The meal stems from that eaten by the pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving.
Need any ideas on how to enjoy your Thanksgiving? here are 7 fun activities to engage in.
1. Count Down to Thanksgiving with a Thankful Activity Jar
This Thanksgiving countdown jar is filled with mini activities that will help the whole family cultivate an attitude of gratitude as you build anticipation for the holiday.
2. Break the Wishbone
This is a classic Thanksgiving tradition in which two people hold onto opposite ends of the bone and pull until it breaks. Whoever ends up with the bigger piece gets to make a wish!
3. Make a Family Tree
Trace your ancestral roots by making a family tree! For super-sized fun, you can create one on your wall using washable markers and pretty paper leaves.
4. Play a Gratitude Game
Keep everyone’s minds on the reason for the season with this free game. To keep the conversation rolling at the table, ask everyone what they’re grateful for with a twist. The first answer can start with A, then the next one starts with B, and so on throughout the alphabet.
It makes asking everyone what they’re thankful for and encourages more creativity in people’s answers.
5. Make a Goodwill Vow
To spice things up during thanksgiving, you can make a goodwill vow to your favourite non-profit organizations. What is Thanksgiving without a little bit of kindness? Head over to Goodwillvows to learn more.
6. Host a Thanksgiving Movie Marathon
After the table has been cleared and the leftover turkey has been put away, it’s time to cuddle up and watch one or two of the best Thanksgiving movies.
7. Volunteer
Give back to your community by spending your Thanksgiving morning volunteering at a soup kitchen or food shelter. You can also collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items to donate to your local food bank.