New Thanksgiving Traditions

I love Thanksgiving!  It's everything there is to love about a holiday with out (most of) the stress!  Think about it, you get the feast, the family, an awesome (usually) football game, and none of the freaking out about getting the right present for Aunt so-and-so.

However, being that 2016 is the year for change (like it or not), I have been considering changing things up a bit.  With that in mind, here are a few alternate Thanksgiving celebration options:

Friends-Giving

This is a super popular option, especially among those of us who are far from our families.  A lot of times, holiday travel can be expensive.  To the point that it only makes financial sense to go back home once or twice a year.  No problem!  Invite a few friends (you will rarely be alone when it comes to this) over for Turkey and thanks!  As far as I am concerned, friends are high on the list of things to be thankful for anyway.  Plus, things might be slightly less awkward when the conversation turns to politics.  And it will.

Thanks-Fast

I always loved having family in the house. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and the like - all staying at or near Nan and Pawpaw's house for Thanksgiving would all congregate in the kitchen for coffee and breakfast.  I remember this being a rare treat, as most of these folks were from out of town.  It is distinctly different than the Thanksgiving meal itself.  It is meal where all Thanksgiving orders are made and given out.  If you were helping with the meal - that's where and when you started.  If you were trying not to be part of that team (mostly dads and kids), this is where you made your plans to be scarce until dinner time.  All in all, it's a rare opportunity to be with and see your family functioning as a larger unit.

Hams-Giving

If you think this tradition is about giving cute little pigs to your dinner guests at Thanksgiving, you are sorta right.  There is a growing movement among Thanksgiving feasters that turkey and ham are interchangeable!  Blasphemy!  Sweet, delicious, honey and brown sugar glazed BLASPHEMY!  However, as a lover of the protein sciences - I will allow it.

However you choose to celebrate it, make sure you do.  We all have something to be thankful for.