By Gabrielle Darling As the air cools and the leaves change color Thanksgiving is right around the corner. With this delicious day of feasting and family come many traditions. The holiday often begins with the feast and the star player is generally the turkey. The bones of the turkey are just as�...

By Gabrielle Darling

As the air cools and the leaves change color Thanksgiving is right around the corner. With this delicious day of feasting and family come many traditions.
The holiday often begins with the feast and the star player is generally the turkey. The bones of the turkey are just as important as the meat when it comes to conversation. Family members stand and pull tender morsels from the carcass while discussing the turkey. No one is entirely sure where the tradition came from, but it might stem from something not so far away in history. The Great Depression was a time of scarcity where nothing went to waste. This little tradition reminds us how lucky we are today.
Families often take a few moments for prayer before the big meal. Joining hands and surveying the table reminds us of loved ones, daily gifts, and most of all the joy of being together. An alternative to prayer is a toast. Each person calls out a different reason to be thankful for the year. Whether it’s humorous or honest, everyone can join. After the clinking of glasses the festive meal can begin.
There isn’t much room for talking during the meal, but there are ways to make the time afterwards unique. A lot of families enjoy taking a brisk walk or a hike in the woods. Afterwards they have dessert to finish the day.

Other families find tradition on the television with something they all enjoy. For many this is football, but there’s also the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special. Sometimes finding characters every generation recognizes brings them closer. A last tradition occurs the day after Thanksgiving. Decorating gingerbread houses makes the holidays festive. It’s a nice way of putting Thanksgiving to bed and preparing for the  Christmas Season. Visit with friends and decorate your houses with leftover Halloween candy.

Tradition is important for keeping family together. Be flexible and mix it up this Thanksgiving. One tradition leads to another and any of them will bring your family together.