As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, many people start to prepare their homes, as well as their schedules to make sure everything is in order and ready to go for the time of giving. Around this time many people have Thanksgiving traditions that happen in many different forms whether it be; the type of food they eat, breaking the wishbone, volunteering, or sharing family stories. That’s why it’s so important to be grateful for what you have while you have it, because if you only talk about what you’re thankful for once a year, then you might not be able to grasp what you have while you got it. You never know when you’re life could change in the blink of an eye, and everything changes all at once. For Tessie Tinch (10), it’s a certain type of food she eats with her family during. 

“My Thanksgiving tradition would have to be gathering at my Grandma’s house…my Aunt always makes these homemade peanut butter swirls,” Tinch said. 

This is what brings Tinch family together: everyone meeting at a certain family member’s house and joining together over a shared food such as peanut butter swirls. The wonder of it all is that one thing, big or tiny, can bring so many people together no matter what the situation may be. Hanna Sexton (10) expresses what type of food brings her family to gather during this holiday season. 

“My tradition would be to eat sausage balls with all of my family,” Sexton said. 

For some people, their family tradition may include saying what they’re thankful for in different and unique ways. The stereotypical way of showing thanks would consist of going around the dinner table and say what you’re thankful for, or having one person say everything you should be thankful for. Molly Bridges (9) elaborates on what her family does on Thanksgiving day as a whole. 

“My family writes what they are thankful for on a tablecloth because my dad would rather us all say something than him doing all the talking,” Bridges said. 

Holidays help bring families together. They make people realize that through all the struggles, you should come together and spend time with the people closest to you. That’s why Thanksgiving traditions are so important to uphold for generations because of the memory and history they hold. So when Thanksgiving day comes to a close, remember in all things, give thanks to those around you.