Ideas For Thanksgiving Fun And Traditions

It can’t be all about the food now can it?  Thanksgiving has definitely taken on the role of the dinner table holiday, sometimes it seems like that is where the celebration begins, and ends.  But looking back at some of my favorite Thanksgivings and what made them memorable, I found it had little to do with the food.  So today I thought we would have a Show and Tell of sorts.  I will share a few ideas,  and then I would love for you to share how you make Thanksgiving special.  We are all bound to find something fun to incorporate this year!

• Thanksgiving Crafting – When I was younger my family would go to Thanksgiving at a cabin of a family members every year. I loved it, especially when snow had fallen, so fun.  One of my favorite parts of these Thanksgivings was the crafting the women would do after the big dinner.  Someone was in charge of a craft and would bring all the supplies and everyone just paid the same amount to join the fun.  The craft was always some sort of Christmas decor and were never anything hard.  Just simple things that could be finished that night, and taken home to add to the Christmas decor.  It could be a wreath, table center piece, something for the mantel or even just an ornament.  The idea is to get everyone around the same table and have a little fun while the men watch football.
• Giving Thanks. Who Are You Most Thankful For? – When I lived in Utah, I had the best neighbor.  I still miss her, she was literally the only reason I stayed in my house.  Her family had a fun Thanksgiving tradition where each family member has to think of one person from the year past that they were the most thankful for, outside of the family.  They then would make a special dessert and take around a note of thanks and the plate of goodies to each person they had chose. Her son chose the dentist one year because he had taken care of a tooth ache, favorite teachers, and church leaders were all part of the list.  One year she came to my door and gave me a plate with a little note saying that year, when she thought of who she was most thankful for, it was me and our friendship.  Talk about making someone’s night!  She said it was fun for the kids because even dad had to participate and they loved seeing who he chose every year.  What a great way to make everyone think of who they are thankful for, no?
• Ornament Exchange - I just heard of this one the other day and thought it was a fun idea.  It came from a local DJ on my favorite radio station no less!  Every year all the women in her family would have an ornament exchange at Thanksgiving.  She said it had become the most anticipated event for them every year.  Some were handmade, others were picked up from travels, or from an antique shop.  It had become something the women would think about all year.  What great ornaments were they going to find for the offering?  Her favorite to date had been a set her great aunt had brought back from France.  I love love this idea!

Okay, now it’s your turn.  Anything special your family does, or fun ways you have heard of to make Thanksgiving fun?  I hope you share, you all know I love traditions!