Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. That info might be surprising to some of my neighbors, seeing how we already have our Christmas decorations up, but in my mind, Thanksgiving and Christmas go hand-in-hand! This time of year is for family, for giving thanks for the many blessings our Lord has given us; a time for reflection, gratitude, and joy. And I love it!

Traditions are going to look a little different for each family, but it’s good to make sure your family has your own unique traditions! This is what helps build memories, creates a family culture. I always hear people asking for Thanksgiving traditions, so here’s some ideas to get you thinking!

• I read the cutest idea on a blog. Each member of the family is given $5 at the grocery store and they can buy whatever they want for dinner. Then they take everything home and eat their uniquely put-together dinner! (Whether it’s frozen pizza and potato chips or lunchables and pineapple!). They do this the night before Thanksgiving, since the next day will be full of cooking and baking!
• Watch the little Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie and eat a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving dinner complete with toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks and jellybeans! Another fun tradition for the night before!
• Eat something completely unconventional. Who says you have to eat a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving? My family did homemade pizzas one year for convenience’s sake, and that tradition has stuck ever since! It’s still a big feast that we all really enjoy ;).
• Focus on gratitude during your feast. It’s easy to just sit and eat your tukey, but take some time to add in more gratitude! Have everyone go around and say a few things they’re particularly grateful for this year; fill a jar throughout November of things you’re grateful for and read through them during dinner. Have each person give a toast. Make it a dinner of gratitude!
• Go for a walk or hike as a family! There’s nothing like being in nature to get you reflecting and feeling grateful!
• Let the kids serve dessert. I love this one. Let them take orders, serve up the whipped cream, and serve from their own little “pie restaurant”. You could also let them set the table, or help with the mashed potatoes or some other simple aspect of the meal.
• Volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen. What better way to give thanks than to give back?
• Have a special breakfast. If your family tends to eat dinner later in the day, enjoy a special breakfast to keep things festive and to keep the hangriness away ;). A yogurt parfait bar, overnight French toast bake, or bagels and cream cheese would all be simple to prepare, but filling and delicious. Even if you have dinner earlier in the day, you could start off the day with a cereal bar to keep things light but fun!

Does your family have any special Thanksgiving traditions? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!