6 Meaningful Thanksgiving Traditions For Your Family

Any holiday that is important to your family offers the opportunity to create traditions you can celebrate each year.
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These traditions can add meaning, help you feel closer as a family, make the holiday feel more special, and create memories that stay with your children into adulthood.
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With Thanksgiving around the corner, here are suggestions for family traditions that focus on giving, gratitude, connection and learning.

1. Share Your Gratitude

Have everyone share what they are thankful for in this past year. Encourage people to be as specific as they can.
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For example, "I'm grateful for friends and family" might be changed to "I'm grateful for the support I have from my friends and family." Or "I'm grateful I get to make cookies with Grandma."
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2. Make a Wish
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• Give each person paper, pen and an envelope, and have them write down one wish for the coming year.
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• Have them seal and address their envelope.
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• Mail all the envelopes in early January so everyone is reminded of their wish and can work toward what they're hoping for.
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• Next Thanksgiving, you can talk about which wishes came true!​
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3. Learn Family History
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• Ask older relatives to share stories of their life and details they know about older generations. Take notes or record them if you can.
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• Share family stories you want your kids to know.
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4. Volunteer To Help Those In Need

Find volunteer opportunities in your area. These might include donating food or delivering meals to those who are hungry.

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5. Learn U.S. and Native American History

Unfortunately, the original stories we are taught about the first Thanksgiving are untrue, and the way many settlers and the United States government treated Native Americans was disrespectful and brutal.
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If your children are old enough, you may want to learn and discuss together what really happened, in an age appropriate way.
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Last Thanksgiving break, my family drove an hour to Oklahoma to visit the Choctaw Cultural Center to learn more about Native American culture and the Trail of Tears. We hope this is one of many experiences that teaches our children about discrimination and oppression in all its forms, so they can be more sensitive to other people, become aware of their own privilege, and stand up for what is just.
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6. Encourage Family Discussion

Here are a few questions you can ask to encourage appreciation of family and the importance of gratitude. There are no right or wrong answers. Your children will gain a lot from hearing what others say and from having you listen to and acknowledge their thoughts.

• What 3 words best describe our family?
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• When do you feel most grateful?
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• What is your favorite family tradition?
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• Add your own questions!
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Traditions create family memories, anchor and connect us, and nurture our spirit.

I hope you're inspired to find ways to make your family time fun and meaningful this Thanksgiving and for all the holidays you celebrate.

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