Besides the breezy, cool air, the colorful trees out my window, and the familiar waft of pumpkin spice, my favorite thing about the season of fall is the excitement and energy of the holidays. As the days dwindle down where I can order a pumpkin spice latte, I realize the reasons why I love Thanksgiving and all the tasty treats and memories that come with it.
1. Food
This one is probably the most obvious. Between pies and potatoes, there isn't a moment where I'm not stuffing my face on Thanksgiving. For all those out there who don't appreciate the turkey and stuffing, it's okay. I haven't always been a fan of the actual meal of green beans and grandma's attempt at pumpkin pie, until I found the reason why it's such a thing. A couple decades ago, the Thanksgiving meal was shared in order to bring two groups of people together. It's not about what we're eating, but the good people and funny things that come along with the preparation of the meal and the conversation at the table.
2. Break
With the stress of finals and reaching the point in the semester where you've lost count of the hours you have studied and the pages you have typed, everyone looks forward to the relaxation of going home and freeing your mind of schoolwork. For me, its finally getting to see my dog and taking a nap in my non-dormitory bedroom. For others, it might be getting some laundry done or catching up on the Netflix series that has been replaced with homework the past couple weeks.
3. Family
Getting to see the people who love you most, even if they ask you a million questions, is one of the best parts of this time of year. Sitting around with full bellies, watching the same movie you've watched every year while discussing the recent political events and catching up with relatives is the ideal way to spend the holiday. Also, it's a good chance to talk up your grandparents about what you want for Christmas while you keep mentioning how much you loved their home made pie.
4. TV
If you are lucky enough to escape the football watching crowd, there are several options of classic Thanksgiving TV shows and movies. You can start off the morning with the Macy's Day Parade and end with some ABC Thanksgiving classics. However, if you can't escape the football, just remember that the 12 days of Christmas movies are starting soon.
5. Shopping
You can't find better deals at any time of year. Stores start as early as 6 p.m. on Thursday, so grab your campout gear if the latest gadgets are on your list. The malls are decorated and sales are hard to ignore. With Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday there could be major damage to your bank account, just remember it's the thought that counts and watch out for crazy shoppers!
6. Christmas
And if you aren't a fan of Thanksgiving, Christmas is only 30 days away.
