Thanksgiving is a specially unique event where families get to celebrate a wholly American holiday with their own twists. Some families like to keep it simple with the quintessential celebrations, while others veer on the edge of plain bizarre.

The classics

Many students have the traditional family practices, such as watching the Macy’s Day Parade and going to family members’ houses. Other students, meanwhile, are more interested in the football game or Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show. 

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is definitely a must for families who want to reminisce in some classic childhood nostalgia. Some families opt for a more mature setting and pull out the good china for the special occasion.  While, some families are simply kids at heart like freshman Kelly Gilmer’s family. “Each year, there always ends up being a whipped cream war with my sisters,” Gilmer says with a smile. 

Junior, Jessica Peace mentions that in her family, everyone has to make something to bring to dinner. She says that this year she plans to bring either stuffing or green bean casserole. 

Senior Ashlyn Schattenberg says her favorite Thanksgiving food is cranberry sauce. Junior Amelia Knight also mentions her favorite Thanksgiving food, the simple mashed potatoes. On the other hand, junior Megan Mansfield loves the ever-so controversial stuffing. 

Many students add that their family creates their very own research team for Black Friday deals. In fact, a few families skip a Thanksgiving dinner altogether and choose to have a Black Friday breakfast to power up for the day of shopping.  

Family traditions

Other students bring a special homage to their heritage by making traditional foods of their cultures. Junior Amy Lawn makes tamales with her family and junior Kelsey Blewster has Lebanese food with her family. Blewster says her favorite food that her family makes is kibbe, a Lebanese baked meat with pine nuts. 

Senior Krystal Gill shares her remedy to avoid a dry turkey with a sweet punch. She claims that putting Dr. Pepper inside the turkey and allowing it to explode inside the turkey creates a delicious flavor with the succulent juiciness saved. Gill says that her dad was the one to come up with the idea and they have been doing it ever since. She further explains how they make it: “We stuff the turkey with a can of Dr. Pepper and when the turkey hits 160 degrees, the pop top opens out and releases carbonated sugar water into the turkey so it becomes super moist.” 

Sophomore Audrey Boardman shares her family tradition of baking a cake shaped like a hand turkey. Boardman says this is a tradition that has been in her family ever since she can remember.  “It doesn’t ever look good but… it’s more than fun if it were [to come out] good.”

While there are the classic Thanksgiving traditions, it is evident there are no set rules for a Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you go all out for Thanksgiving or just take some time to dig into some food, take some time to give thanks for whatever you may be grateful.