It’s already November, which means Thanksgiving is just around the corner! There’s feasting to be done, family to spend time with, old traditions to bring out, and new ones to start.

Family holiday traditions can make for some of the most special memories.

Traveling to see family

The best part of Thanksgiving is getting together with family! Whether we see them all the time or just once a year, being with family for the holidays is so special.

The turkey pardon

The Presidential turkey pardon is possibly the weirdest Thanksgiving tradition we have here in America. Each year, the President selects one turkey in the country to be “pardoned,” AKA saved, from being Thanksgiving supper. The chosen turkey gets to live free another year. 

The wishbone game

After the Thanksgiving meal is done, a lot of families will let the kids battle it out over the wishbone game. Two kids will grab onto either side of the wishbone and pull with all their might. Whoever gets the bigger piece of the bone wins! Winning the wishbone game is considered to be good luck. Who will win this year?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Lots of American families will tune in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning. The parade has been going on each year since 1924 and has only become bigger and better with each passing year. Giant balloons and floats pass by along with celebrities performing songs and dances as thousands of people gather in New York City and millions gather around their TV sets to watch. It sure is an amazing sight!

Watching football

Another common television tradition for families on Thanksgiving is to tune into the big game. After everyone has eaten and is ready to sit down and take their belts down a notch or two, lots of families will turn on a football game. Who will your family be rooting for this Thanksgiving?

Eating pumpkin pie 

The award for the most famous dessert on the Thanksgiving table would have to go to the one and only pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is typically a delicacy that folks either love or hate. It’s unique, spiced taste is something that lots of people can’t wait to scarf down when Thanksgiving rolls around. The big question is, will you be eating your pumpkin pie with whipped cream or cool whip? (Oops! We didn’t mean to start a fight!)

Cutting the turkey

Ah, the turkey. The bird behind it all. It wouldn’t be a Thanksgiving without a turkey, and that meat has to get cut. It’s common for the honor of cutting the turkey to be a big deal in American families, and it’s usually passed down from fathers to sons. However, it’s 2019 people! Who’s to say a lady can’t do the cutting this year? Or maybe you’re having a tofu-turkey. However you celebrate, this tradition can make someone feel really special and proud. 

Black Friday shopping

Some families like to chow down and nap on Thanksgiving, while others hit the shopping mall. Black Friday shopping is starting earlier and earlier each year, and lots of families can’t resist the sales. Just make sure you keep away from the crazies on Black Friday!

Volunteering with the Family

There’s no better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than giving back to the community. Volunteering on Thanksgiving day has become a very popular tradition among many families. Helping out at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or other organizations can give your family something to bond over, and serving those in need is so important. 

Decorating for Christmas

Finally, one of the most popular family traditions for Thanksgiving is to decorate for Christmas after the feast is over! If you’re like me, you turn the Christmas music up as soon as everyone is done eating and start pulling out the Christmas tree and the ornaments. This year, get your whole family in on the decorating process, or better yet, get crafty and create some homemade decorations together!

Do you and your family practice any of these traditions? If so, make sure you take lots of pictures of your family celebrating Thanksgiving this year so that you can remember all the happy times spent together! And if you have pictures, tapes, or films from Thanksgivings past, get them digitized with Kodak! The only way to perfectly preserve your memories is to make digital copies of them. Our analog media won’t last forever - don’t let your most precious holiday memories get lost to the test of time! Try Kodak Digitizing today.