November 28 – Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING STEP-BY-STEP

•  Create a gratitude jar – purchase one for each guest/family.
•  Give KindNotes.
•  Amazing Pioneer Woman Thanksgiving recipes.
•  42 Best Thanksgiving Games.
•  Volunteer at Thanksgiving!
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM FOR THANKSGIVING

For many Americans, the Thanksgiving holiday is a time to gather with family and friends, enjoy a traditional meal, and give thanks for all the blessings in their lives. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, and it is typically a day for families to come together, enjoy a feast of turkey and other hearty dishes, and watch football or other sporting events. For many people, the Thanksgiving holiday is also a time to reflect on the things they are grateful for in their lives. Whatever your plans for Thanksgiving may be, it is sure to be a day filled with family, food, and fun.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

The Thanksgiving holiday has its roots in the 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. The Pilgrims, a group of English Puritans who had fled religious persecution in their homeland, had arrived in North America the previous year. After a harsh winter left many of them dead, they were welcomed by the Wampanoags, who helped them to survive. The two groups decided to celebrate their good fortune with a feast, and it is believed that this event gave rise to the modern Thanksgiving holiday.

In 1789, George Washington issued a proclamation declaring Thanksgiving to be a national day of Thanksgiving. And in 1863, Abraham Lincoln made it an official holiday. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated as a day of family togetherness and gratitude. Whether or not you have your own personal reasons to give thanks, the history of this holiday is something we can all be thankful for.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING

1. Cook a traditional Thanksgiving feast: Gather your loved ones and prepare a delicious meal featuring turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings.
2. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Tune in to the iconic parade filled with giant balloons, floats, and performances.
3. Play touch football: Start a friendly game of touch football in the backyard with family and friends.
4. Volunteer at a soup kitchen: Give back to your community by volunteering at a local soup kitchen or food bank.
5. Host a Thanksgiving potluck: Invite friends and family to bring their favorite dishes and enjoy a potluck-style feast together.
6. Take a nature hike: Enjoy the crisp fall weather with a scenic hike in nature, appreciating the changing leaves and fresh air.
7. Decorate pumpkins: Get creative with pumpkin decorating, whether it’s carving jack-o-lanterns or painting festive designs.
8. Share gratitude letters: Take time to write heartfelt letters expressing gratitude to loved ones and friends.
9. Create Thanksgiving crafts: Get crafty with DIY Thanksgiving-themed projects like centerpieces, place cards, or cornucopias.
10. Watch Thanksgiving-themed movies: Cozy up with loved ones and watch classic Thanksgiving movies like “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” or “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”
11. Host a game night: Gather around for board games, card games, or trivia to add some fun to the holiday festivities.
12. Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard: Spend the day picking pumpkins or apples at a local farm, enjoying the autumn harvest.
13. Make Thanksgiving-themed desserts: Get creative in the kitchen with festive desserts like pumpkin pie, apple crisp, or pecan tarts.
14. Share family stories: Take time to reminisce and share stories with loved ones, preserving cherished memories for generations to come.
15. Take family photos: Capture special moments with family portraits or candid snapshots to remember the holiday.
16. Host a Friendsgiving celebration: Gather friends for a Thanksgiving feast, creating new traditions and memories together.
17. Set up a gratitude scavenger hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt with items that represent things you’re thankful for, encouraging reflection and appreciation.
18. Attend a community Thanksgiving event: Join a local Thanksgiving parade, festival, or charity event to celebrate with your community.
19. Create a thankful tree: Decorate a tree branch with paper leaves listing things you’re grateful for, adding to it throughout the day.
20. Host a pie baking contest: Challenge friends and family to a friendly competition to see who can bake the best pie.
21. Have a movie marathon: Spend the day watching Thanksgiving-themed movies or your favorite films with loved ones.
22. Make care packages for the less fortunate: Put together care packages with food, toiletries, and warm clothing to distribute to those in need.
23. Organize a family talent show: Showcase talents and skills with a family talent show, including singing, dancing, or comedy acts.
24. Write a gratitude journal: Take time to reflect on blessings and write them down in a gratitude journal, fostering a positive mindset.
25. End the day with a bonfire: Gather around a cozy bonfire with loved ones, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories as you wind down the holiday festivities.
26. Thanksgiving Trivia: Test your knowledge of Thanksgiving history, traditions, and fun facts with a trivia game.
27. Turkey Trot Relay Race: Organize a relay race where participants must carry a toy turkey while navigating obstacles.
28. Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest: Challenge participants to see who can eat a slice of pumpkin pie the fastest without using their hands.
29. Thanksgiving Bingo: Play a game of bingo with Thanksgiving-themed cards featuring images or words associated with the holiday.
30. Turkey Bowling: Set up bowling pins shaped like turkeys and use a small pumpkin as the bowling ball to knock them down.
31. Cranberry Toss: Divide players into teams and see who can toss cranberries into designated targets or containers from a distance.
32. Leaf Pile Jump: Gather fallen leaves into a large pile and take turns jumping into it for some seasonal fun.
33. Cornhole Tournament: Set up a cornhole game and host a friendly tournament with family and friends.
34. Thanksgiving Charades: Act out Thanksgiving-related words or phrases while others guess what you’re portraying.
35. Potato Sack Race: Race against others while hopping inside a potato sack, adding a playful twist to the traditional game.
36. Apple Bobbing: Fill a tub with water and apples, then challenge participants to grab apples with their teeth without using their hands.
37. Scavenger Hunt: Create a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt with clues leading to hidden items or treats around the house or yard.
38. Turkey Tail Tag: Play a game of tag where the person tagged must attach a paper turkey tail to their clothing until everyone has a tail.
39. Thanksgiving Word Search: Challenge friends and family to find Thanksgiving-related words hidden in a word search puzzle.
40. Pie-in-the-Face Game: Take turns spinning a wheel to determine who gets a whipped cream pie in the face for some silly fun.
41. Acorn Toss: Use small acorns or beanbags to toss into designated targets, such as baskets or buckets, for points.
42. Feather Relay Race: Balance a feather on your hand or head while racing against others in a relay-style competition.
43. Leaf Matching Game: Create pairs of leaves with matching patterns or colors and play a memory game to find the matching pairs.
44. Turkey Hunt: Hide toy turkeys or turkey-themed items around the house or yard for kids to find.
45. Thanksgiving Mad Libs: Fill in the blanks of Thanksgiving-themed stories with silly words to create humorous tales.
46. Wishbone Duel: Divide the wishbone from the turkey and let two participants make a wish before pulling it apart to see who gets the longer piece.
47. Harvest Corn Relay: Carry ears of corn on a spoon while racing against others in a relay race to see who can finish first.
48. Pilgrim Hat Ring Toss: Toss rings onto a large pilgrim hat or cone-shaped object for points in this festive game.
49. Sweet Potato Spoon Race: Balance a sweet potato on a spoon while racing against others to the finish line without dropping it.
50. Thanksgiving Jigsaw Puzzle Race: Race against the clock to complete a Thanksgiving-themed jigsaw puzzle, either individually or in teams.
51. Turkey Handprint Cards: Create adorable Thanksgiving cards by tracing and cutting out handprints to resemble turkeys, then adding festive details.
52. Pinecone Turkeys: Use pinecones as the body and colorful feathers as the tail to craft cute turkey decorations for your Thanksgiving table.
53. Thankful Tree: Make a tree using branches and decorate it with paper leaves where guests can write down what they’re thankful for.
54. Fall Leaf Mason Jar Lanterns: Glue colorful fall leaves onto mason jars and place LED candles inside for charming autumnal lanterns.
55. Cornucopia Centerpiece: Fill a cornucopia basket with seasonal fruits, vegetables, and foliage to create a beautiful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast.
56. Pumpkin Place Card Holders: Turn mini pumpkins into place card holders by adding a slit on top for name cards, perfect for assigning seats at the table.
57. Thanksgiving Wreath: Craft a wreath using fall foliage, pinecones, and other natural elements to adorn your front door or indoor space.
58. Harvest Garland: String together dried corn cobs, mini pumpkins, and fall leaves to create a festive garland to hang around your home.
59. Pilgrim Hat Treat Holders: Make mini pilgrim hats using paper cups and black construction paper to hold candies or small treats for guests.
60. Turkey Feather Headband: Create colorful turkey feather headbands using construction paper and elastic bands for a fun accessory.
61. Fall Leaf Coasters: Press colorful fall leaves between sheets of clear contact paper to make seasonal coasters for your Thanksgiving table.
62. Thanksgiving Table Runner: Customize a plain table runner with fabric paint or markers, incorporating Thanksgiving-themed designs and messages.
63. Pumpkin Spice Candles: Pour scented wax into small pumpkins and insert wicks to make delightful pumpkin spice candles for ambiance.
64. Burlap Utensil Holders: Cut and sew burlap into pockets to hold silverware, adding a rustic touch to your Thanksgiving table setting.
65. Turkey Feather Napkin Rings: Roll up colorful paper feathers and attach them to napkin rings for festive and whimsical table decorations.
66. Harvest Corn Place Mats: Weave dried corn husks together to create textured place mats for a charming addition to your Thanksgiving table.
67. Gratitude Jar: Decorate a mason jar and encourage guests to write down what they’re thankful for to fill the jar throughout the day.
68. Pumpkin Seed Art: Use pumpkin seeds to create mosaic-style artwork or designs on paper or canvas for unique Thanksgiving decor.
69. Fall Leaf Bowl: Apply Mod Podge to the inside of a balloon and cover it with pressed fall leaves to make a decorative leaf bowl once dry.
70. Turkey Pinecone Place Cards: Attach googly eyes, feathers, and a beak to pinecones to make adorable turkey place cards for each guest.
71. Cinnamon Stick Candle Holders: Glue cinnamon sticks around the outside of glass candle holders to create fragrant and festive candle holders.
72. Felt Pumpkin Ornaments: Cut orange felt into pumpkin shapes and decorate them with fabric paint or markers to make cute hanging ornaments.
73. Thanksgiving Banner: Create a banner using cardstock or fabric with letters spelling out “Give Thanks” or other Thanksgiving messages to hang as decor.
74. Indian Corn Door Decor: Tie together colorful Indian corn with ribbon and hang it on your front door as a welcoming autumnal decoration.
75. Leaf Mason Jar Votives: Paint mason jars in fall colors and attach pressed leaves with Mod Podge to make beautiful votive candle holders.
76. Roast Turkey: Prepare a classic roast turkey with herbs and spices, the centerpiece of any Thanksgiving feast.
77. Mashed Potatoes: Whip up creamy mashed potatoes using butter, milk, and seasoning for a comforting side dish.
78. Stuffing: Make savory stuffing using bread, onions, celery, and herbs, baked until golden brown and crispy.
79. Cranberry Sauce: Cook fresh cranberries with sugar and orange zest to make a tangy and sweet cranberry sauce.
80. Sweet Potato Casserole: Bake sweet potatoes with a brown sugar and pecan topping for a deliciously sweet side dish.
81. Green Bean Casserole: Combine green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions for a classic casserole.
82. Gravy: Prepare rich and flavorful gravy using turkey drippings, broth, and flour for drizzling over the turkey and mashed potatoes.
83. Pumpkin Pie: Bake a traditional pumpkin pie with a flaky crust and spiced pumpkin filling, perfect for dessert.
84. Cornbread: Bake golden cornbread to serve alongside the meal, fluffy and slightly sweet.
85. Roasted Vegetables: Roast a medley of seasonal vegetables such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, and squash with olive oil and herbs.
86. Macaroni and Cheese: Cook creamy macaroni and cheese with a blend of cheeses for a comforting and indulgent side dish.
87. Candied Yams: Prepare sweet yams glazed with butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows, baked until bubbly and golden.
88. Pecan Pie: Bake a decadent pecan pie with a rich filling of pecans, eggs, sugar, and butter in a flaky crust.
89. Deviled Eggs: Make classic deviled eggs with hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, and paprika for a tasty appetizer.
90. Corn Casserole: Combine corn kernels with creamed corn, cornbread mix, and butter for a deliciously creamy and sweet casserole.
91. Brussels Sprouts: Roast Brussels sprouts with bacon and balsamic glaze for a flavorful and hearty side dish.
92. Apple Pie: Bake a homemade apple pie with tart apples, cinnamon, and a buttery crust, a quintessential Thanksgiving dessert.
93. Buttermilk Biscuits: Bake fluffy buttermilk biscuits to serve warm with butter and honey alongside the meal.
94. Pumpkin Bread: Bake moist and spiced pumpkin bread, perfect for snacking or serving as a breakfast treat.
95. Cranberry Walnut Salad: Toss together mixed greens, dried cranberries, walnuts, and a vinaigrette dressing for a refreshing salad option.
96. Potato Rolls: Bake soft and fluffy potato rolls to accompany the meal, brushed with butter for extra flavor.
97. Creamed Corn: Cook fresh corn kernels in a creamy sauce for a rich and comforting side dish.
98. Apple Cider: Serve warm or cold apple cider infused with cinnamon and spices for a festive beverage option.
99. Cheese Platter: Arrange a variety of cheeses, crackers, and fruits on a platter for a simple and elegant appetizer.
100. Pumpkin Cheesecake: Prepare a creamy pumpkin cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and spiced pumpkin filling for a decadent dessert option.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate Thanksgiving?  Please share them!