This year we are creating family Thanksgiving traditions. We have chosen 4 new traditions (you can read about them here)!
Having family traditions is like planting a garden. You have to intentionally care for that garden and if you don’t keep repeating the tradition from year to year it will die just like the garden without proper care.
There are some many different awesome Thanksgiving traditions. Choose one (or a few) that fit the needs of you and your family. Don’t go crazy, you can always add more in years to come!
Creating family Thanksgiving traditions doesn’t have to be difficult! Here are several ideas that will help you create your own family Thanksgiving traditions!
(**The links below are my referral links. If you make purchase, I may receive a small commission that I use to help fund this blog. Thank you for your support! You can read my disclosure policy here.)
Make a Thanksgiving tree!
We’ve done this in the past and it was fun! Create a tree trunk and branches with construction paper. Cut out leaves in fall colors and each day write something you’re thankful for on a leaf. (Have everyone choose something different each day.) At the end of the month you have a cute decoration and lots of gratitude!
Share your thankfulness!
Take turns at your family Thanksgiving meal going around the table and sharing a few things you are thankful for. This is a great way to connect with one another!
Serve a Thanksgiving meal as a family.
Whether you choose a shelter, church, or soup kitchen it doesn’t matter. Find a place that is meaningful to you and enjoy serving others as a family. This may be the most meaningful thing your family does all year!
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together.
Create a thankful jar.
This is a fun project you can do throughout the year. All you need are some strips of paper and each time you’re thankful for something, add it to the jar. You could have a different color of paper for each member of your family and share a few on Thanksgiving.
Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
together as a family.
Watch a football game together.
If you are a football family and aren’t into traditional turkey and mashed potatoes, why not have game food? Nachos, wings, and whatever your family likes are a great way to spend some time together as a family!
Put up your Christmas tree.
Our family does this the day after Thanksgiving. It’s fun putting in our favorite Christmas cds, sipping hot chocolate and decorating the tree! We also like to watch Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas when we’re finished!
Host a “Friendsgiving”
I heard about this a few years ago and I really want to adopt this tradition soon! Set up a date with your friends and host a “Friendsgiving”. This is where you get together with your friends that you are thankful for. I also love this idea for those that have family miles away.
Host a pie baking contest with friends
This would be fun to do with “Friendsgiving”!
Support local charities!
Host the meal and ask your guests to bring coats, mittens, gloves, and hats to give to needy people instead of bring side dishes.
Create a “Thankful Pumpkin”
Have a sharpie and ask everyone to write what they are thankful for around the pumpkin. This makes a great Thanksgiving centerpiece!
Run a 5K.
Many communities are now hosting 5 or 10K charity races the morning of Thanksgiving. Start the day with health and wellness!
Create a Family Top 10!
Make a top 10 list of things that you’re thankful for each person in your family. Everyone loves a compliment and it’s fun to focus on building up your family!
Thank your neighbors!
Treat your neighbors with something tasty to eat and a note telling them the reasons you appreciate them.
Host a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt!
This is so fun for kids! Search for turkey, pumpkin pie, someone watching football, etc. Get creative!
Decorate the kids’ table!
Make a fun kids table complete with place mats, small party favors, coloring pages, candy corn, etc.
Invite extras!
Invite someone over for your Thanksgiving feast that doesn’t have family close by or anywhere else to go. Extend this invitation to all of your guests to bring along more guests and enjoy the community!
Play some games.
It’s fun to play games. One to try is invite everyone bring a Christmas decoration and before going home, play the white elephant game to kick off the Christmas season. You could make it gag gifts or fun gifts. Use your imagination and have a blast!
What are your favorite family Thanksgiving traditions?
Have you enjoyed what you read here today? Do you have friends or other women you know that could benefit from this resource? If so, please do me a favor! I have included the links below to share with other intentional women! They’ll be glad you did!
Leave a Reply