8 Thanksgiving Traditions To Start

Thanksgiving traditions

How about some Thanksgiving traditions to start? But first, did you know one of the reasons Canadian Thanksgiving takes place a month before American Thanksgiving is because the further north in Canada you go, the colder it gets, so we have an earlier harvest? Canadians also started celebrating Thanksgiving about 40 years before Americans did.

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you have any traditions you follow or specific foods you eat? Many families encourage the entire family to become involved in meal preparations and prepare foods like turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and mixed vegetables. Pumpkin pie is usually a treat at the end of the meal, along with other pies like apple, pecan, or sweet potato.

While sharing a meal is a part of Thanksgiving, it’s certainly not the whole deal. The holiday is about showing gratitude and spending time with family and reconnecting with them. We’ve gathered a few ideas to help with fostering connection, and perhaps this might give you some ideas for your own Thanksgiving traditions to start!

1. Plan a photo shoot

This might be a good thanksgiving tradition to start! Sure, some people might not want pictures because of how they’ve dressed, or that haircut they just got, but this is a great way to keep memories alive. You could theme it, or you could just take photos at random, and be sure to send everyone copies!

2. Invent your own recipe

This is a good thanksgiving tradition to start! The purpose of this is to keep memories alive. You could theme it, or you take photos at random, and be sure to send everyone copies!

3. Start a toasting or sharing circle

At some family gatherings, there may be people who don’t have much contact with you, and while you may speak with them, the things you might talk about might only be at the surface level. Take a moment at the table and let everyone speak, they could share a new and exciting thing in their life, something they’ve just learned, a new project, or something artsy or musical they’ve been working on. It doesn’t matter what it is, the goal is to connect.

4. Game night

Why not get each person to bring over a board game, or some cards, and have everyone play after dinner and dessert? It requires little to no planning and can be a lot of fun!

5. Hike or walk

Grab the dogs, the cats (some go for walks too, you know!), the kids, and go for a walk on a trail or around the neighbourhood. You’ll get some fresh air, and you’ll never know what you might find along the way.

6. Have a fire

Do you have a fire pit in your backyard? A fire is a cozy option on a cold October evening. After all food and dessert is done, or even before, stoke up a fire and have everyone gather around. A fire is a warm and inviting way to get people to relax and unwind. Just remember to practice your fire safety!

7. Movie marathon

Want to stay indoors? No problem! Load up that streaming service, DVDs, or whatever else you use and settle in for a night of movies! Popcorn and snacks are optional but encouraged.

8. Donate

Have your guests bring a food donation when they arrive and make sure you donate it to the local food bank or a shelter. It’s a great way to do something good for other people during the holiday, and among the most rewarding Thanksgiving traditions to start!

So it’s not just about the food?

Although the food is important, it’s safe to say that Thanksgiving is also about community and sharing moments by doing activities together. Do you have any different traditions that you participate in during Thanksgiving? Did we give you any ideas for thanksgiving traditions to start yourself?

Follow CanScribe on our social media accounts, don’t forget to like and share something with us that you do during this holiday! Stories and pictures are great!

Happy Thanksgiving and have a fun holiday from all of us at CanScribe!!