Despite potential conflict or stress some families may anticipate, Thanksgiving remains a time to come together and enjoy the company of those around you. For some, it is a reunion with extended family; for others, it’s an intimate gathering with loved ones. However, it can be difficult to fully appreciate Thanksgiving when it starts to seem bland or repetitive. Often, the opportunity to switch things up is overlooked as celebrators pay more attention to upcoming winter holidays. With a little effort, though, families can make Thanksgiving a day to be remembered.
Take down the Christmas tree
Decorating for winter holidays before December is perfectly fine — after all, it may be a waste not to extend the joyous season as far as possible. However, unless you’ve stumbled upon some kind of turkey tree, pausing the winter décor for a day to focus on Thanksgiving can make the celebration feel more special.
Though it can be challenging to find Thanksgiving-specific decorations when stores are already filled with winter-themed items, putting in the effort to display gourds, cornucopias or other fall-themed pieces can help create a more personal connection to the holiday and help you spread its spirit.
Change up the recipes
The main event of Thanksgiving is typically the dinner, so one of the best ways to make the holiday more exciting is to change up the food. This doesn’t mean abandoning cherished traditions like turkey, stuffing and sides, but rather reimagining the creation of each one. Whether you are the one cooking or just helping out, there are countless opportunities to add fresh twists.
For example, stuffing offers endless recipe variations that can use a wide range of ingredients. Instead of using white bread as the base, try cubed and toasted day-old cornbread to add a more prominent flavor to the mixture. Along with traditional ingredients like celery and sage, sun-dried tomatoes can give another layer of taste, ensuring the stuffing will be everyone’s favorite dish on the table.
Many might rely on store-bought cranberry sauce, but making it homemade is easy and significantly more tasty. Homemade cranberry sauce is a great way for those who don’t usually cook to contribute to the meal, adding extra excitement to the day as it includes more than simply eating. Cranberry sauce recipes are abundant and typically involve simmering cranberries with sugar and spices for a simple yet delicious dish.
Between the traditional turkey and sides forming the main Thanksgiving course and pies covering dessert, there’s still plenty of room to add a creative twist. Preparing a simple appetizer of your choice is an easy way to get involved in the cooking process and contribute something special to the holiday. Even while sticking to the classic sides like potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and beans, there are countless ways to elevate them. Try scalloped potatoes instead of mashed, shred sprouts with bacon or fry some crispy onions to garnish the beans.
What matters most this Thanksgiving isn’t a specific dish or recipe but the effort of taking responsibility for part of the meal. If multiple family members join in, you could even start a friendly competition to get people more enthusiastic.
Rethink the table
Preparing the Thanksgiving table can be daunting, especially when hosting a large group and striving to meet expectations for an abundant spread. Setting the table, like an upscale restaurant, with cloth napkins and silverware for each course can subconsciously make everyone view the occasion as more special. If cooking is not your strength, taking over the table is another way to involve yourself and make sure others can get behind the level of enthusiasm you want to bring.
Beyond the table, consider changing up the room itself. For families that typically eat in the same room or have Thanksgiving in the same location every year, a simple switch of the backdrop can again elevate the significance of the dinner and ensure it is a holiday people look forward to.
Find an activity
The traditional breaking of the turkey wishbone at the table is simply not enough to fill a day with fun. Thanksgiving dinner typically ends early, as people start eating in the afternoon. Even after a full day of cooking and eating slowly, there is ample time for more activities to extend the holiday. Activities like volunteering or cleaning can embody the spirit of gratitude, while others, such as hiking or a group outing, can focus more on strengthening the family bond.
Regardless of the activity, getting outside after a big meal could ensure everyone feels their best and ends the day with a positive memory rather than one of feeling overstuffed. Inventing a game or playing a standard board game adds another piece of fun to a day that can seem to end so soon after dessert.
In between all the noise of Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving deserves its place in the holiday season, and everyone at the table can contribute to making it more memorable. While students often take a backseat during large family gatherings, stepping up to take on a new responsibility can bring even the least enthusiastic participants to better appreciate this classic American tradition.
