15 Best Thanksgiving Traditions
Any holiday that includes multiple pies and a post-dinner nap is at the top of our list at Grit & Grace Studio. There's so much to love about Thanksgiving, from the crisp autumn air to dusting off grandma's secret recipe for making green bean casserole.
This holiday is steeped in nostalgia and rooted in history, and there are so many Thanksgiving traditions that really bring the magic to this epic feast day.
While gathering with loved ones is one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions, we also have to list giving thanks around a beautifully decorated table... and hiding (or hoarding) our cherished Tupperware of leftover stuffing in the back corner of the fridge. (Don't judge us.)
Every family has its own special take on Thanksgiving traditions, but today, we're dishing out some of the Grit & Grace family's personal favorites!
From Giving Thanks to Thanksgiving Menus: 15 Thanksgiving Traditions to Love
The Traditional Thanksgiving Menu
Stop, drop, and pass the rolls! Though the debates of fresh versus canned cranberry sauce and pumpkin versus pecan pie rage on, when it comes to Thanksgiving, everyone can agree that food is a top priority. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole top the list of classic Thanksgiving dishes, but a traditional Thanksgiving menu varies depending in which part of the country you’ll be feasting.
In the Southeastern US, cornbread stuffing, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, collard greens, corn casserole, and deep-fried turkey all hold sacred places at the table, while in the Northeastern states, hasty pudding, sauerkraut, and even oyster dressing are dearly held favorites. Heading to the Midwest this holiday? Don’t be surprised to find wild rice casserole, applesauce, Derby pie, or scalloped potatoes on the menu.
Giving Thanks
As Author Alice Walker so aptly said, “Thank you is the best prayer that one could say.”
Whether you’re offering a blessing, taking a quiet moment of joyous reflection, or sharing something for which you’re grateful, giving thanks is a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition that’s dear to our hearts. Pass a strand of Blessing Beads around the table as each person offers up their thanks.
Thanksgiving Table Decor
A beautifully set table sets the tone for a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner, and there’s no shortage of inspiration out there, from Martha Stewart to Pinterest. Adorn your dining table with fancy china, a fresh table linen, taper candles, flowers, an Oyster Shell Garland, or pumpkins to kick the evening’s festivities off on an elegant note. Add Gilded Oyster Shell Place Cards with your loved ones’ names in calligraphy or Oyster Napkin Rings as a sophisticated touch.
Thanksgiving Decorations
Nothing says “Happy Fall, y’all” like pumpkins and a few happy scarecrows.
Thanksgiving decorations range from colorful wreaths and leaf garlands to painted pumpkins, cornstalks, and hay bales, but they’re a cheerful Thanksgiving tradition that offers up a warm welcome to friends or family members dropping by during the holidays.
Macy’s Day Parade
You may have to fight your football-loving cousins for the remote, but piling onto the couch to watch the Macy’s Day Parade is a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition.
This year’s Macy’s Day Parade coverage runs from 9 am-noon in all time zones on NBC, so you’ll have plenty of time to ooh and ahh over the giant, colorful floats before donning your apron to help mom in the kitchen.
Thanksgiving Movies
After the last plate is squeezed into the dishwasher, grab your siblings for a cuddle puddle and some quality time in front of a Thanksgiving classic. Now admittedly, what qualifies as a classic Thanksgiving movie varies by family, but A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Miracle on 34th Street, Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, You’ve Got Mail, and a few choice episodes of Friends are all popular picks for the Netflix queue.
Post-Thanksgiving Games
After carb-loading on mashed potatoes and pie, your more athletic family members might enjoy throwing a pigskin around in the autumn leaves. For the rest of us, rounding up the family for a competitive game of Scrabble, checkers, Trivial Pursuit, or charades is the perfect Thanksgiving tradition to stave off that impending food coma.
Gathering with Loved Ones
It doesn’t get better than gathering with loved ones, whether it’s for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, a Friendsgiving party, or one of our Mala Workshops.
Nothing compares to the smiles and laughter of your nearest and dearest, so be sure to make time for those closest to you this holiday season.
Connect with a team member today to discuss tailoring the Mala Workshop to celebrate your tribe as you give thanks and celebrate the bonds of sisterhood.
Thanksgiving Nap
Girl, after spending a meal wrestling your younger brother for the dark meat and listening to your uncle’s newest cringe-worthy joke for the fourth time, you deserve a nap. When it comes to Thanksgiving, our mantra is to eat, rest, repeat. Swap the dress shoes for slippers and change into those spandex-laden comfy clothes: you’ve got a standing post-Thanksgiving date with the couch (or guest room).
Breaking a Wishbone
Once the meal is over, it’s a Thanksgiving tradition to break the wishbone. Two people each take a side of the cleaned wishbone and make a wish.
Then on the count of three, they pull to see which person gets the larger side, thus guaranteeing their wish comes true.
If competing over a wishbone isn’t quite your style, pick up one of our Flying Wish Paper Kits for a more whimsical experience.
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Feast mode: activated. Savoring leftovers is, inarguably, one of the best Thanksgiving traditions. Whether you’re sneaking bites a few hours after your family meal or crafting towering turkey, cranberry, and green bean sandwiches the next day, Thanksgiving leftovers transform snack time into an absolute art. We may be guilty of hiding the remainders of our favorite dishes in the very back of the fridge to keep them safe from idle nibblers, but that’s just part of the holiday, right?!
Taking a Long Walk
What better way to make room for dessert than with a long stroll through the crisp November air? Bundle up the whole fam for a brisk hike or saunter hand-in-hand with your love! Either way, the post-Thanksgiving meander is one of our favorite ways to slow down and relish the moment during this bustling holiday.
Getting Out the Christmas Decorations
As soon as Thanksgiving is cleared from the table, head up to the attic to snag the Christmas decorations! Deck the halls before herding the family into the car to pick out a tree, or kick the Christmas off a little leisurely by starting with a wreath and your favorite holiday table linens (and an Oyster Shell Garland or two!).
Kicking Off Holiday Shopping
Black Friday is historically one of the biggest shopping days in the United States, though many people are getting an early start on their Christmas shopping this year!
While some families consider waiting in long lines for a chance to stock up on holiday gifts a Thanksgiving tradition, online shopping, local holiday farmer’s markets, and supporting small businesses are increasingly important among shoppers.
Visit the Grit & Grace family at both of our King Street locations, the Charleston Farmers Market, and during Second Sunday on King!
Turning on the Christmas Music
Christmas starts the minute Thanksgiving is over, in our book, so turn up the Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. There’s so much to celebrate during the holiday season, and a soundtrack of our favorite Christmas tunes always helps spread cheer!
If you’re looking to refresh your Christmas Spotify lineup, never fear. We put together an epic Christmas playlist last year!
Are you still looking for a thoughtful hostess gift for Thanksgiving? Look no further than our curated selection of lavish gift baskets or our Blessing Beads. Our Blessing Beads are available in Gilded, Decoupage, Customized Gilded, and Bee Love, so you can tailor this gift to your loved one. And if you’re traveling to Charleston for the holidays, please come stay with us at the Grit & Grace Cottage!
Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Our in-house calligraphers are here to customize our Oyster Place Cards and Gilded Oyster Napkin Rings with your family’s names or a festive holiday inscription.
If you’re hoping to give the gift of quality time this season, let us host you and yours for a transformative, creative experience at an upcoming Mala Workshop. Our team members would love to help tailor this popular workshop to your tribe!
One Love & Blessings,