Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated across America every year. It brings people together by showing our gratitude and giving thanks through many different traditions. Whether it’s food, family, or simply having fun, the ADM community uses this time to celebrate the things they love.
The holiday originated in 1621 when the pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe hosted a three-day-long feast after founding the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts. Thanksgiving officially became a U.S. holiday on November 28, 1870. The Thanksgiving holiday is also known to be celebrated in other countries, however, the celebrations have many differences in traditions and where the day originated from.
While Thanksgiving originally began as a celebration and time to give thanks to the autumn harvest, today Americans take this time to celebrate, give thanks, and show their gratitude for many other things in life through different traditions. When interviewed, students and staff had lots of different answers about how they celebrate this holiday.
ADM senior, Mallory Davison said her favorite part of celebrating Thanksgiving is “being able to spend time with my family while eating good food.” Davison said her family typically celebrates the Thursday of the holiday week and the following Saturday by going to her grandparent’s house where they eat and hang out with cousins. When asked what kinds of foods she typically eats on Thanksgiving she said, “I really love mashed potatoes and Oreo fluff, but I do not like pie at all.”
Food and family are common themes when it comes to holiday celebrations. Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Mills said her favorite Thanksgiving food was “definitely sweet potato casserole.” She loves to watch football while her family hosts a big group of family for lunch at her parent’s house. Typically, she celebrates the day of with some of her family and ends the day by going to her best friend’s house to hang out with a group of friends, she said typically she has a second Thanksgiving the next day as well.
While many families celebrate the day by staying inside and enjoying the comfort of food and company, some prefer to use the day as an opportunity to get outside and be active with those they love. Senior, Isaac Hatchitt said that his favorite tradition is playing flag football with his family. “We play no matter the weather, it’s always my favorite because I love playing rec sports and it’s a blast being with my family. It really helps bring our family together and lets us all enjoy an activity we all love.” Hatchitt said that his family used to celebrate on Thanksgiving Day but since they have such busy schedules now, they typically celebrate the following weekend. Hatchitt’s favorite Thanksgiving dish is mac and cheese. He also said, “Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is the one holiday where my family all gets together and can enjoy spending time with one another.”
The ADM community has a lot to give thanks for this holiday season. Whatever this time of year looks like to you, be sure to enjoy spending time with the people and things you love to show your gratitude.
