As college students, you cannot help, but love Thanksgiving due to the glorious break in homework it gives you between midterms and finals. The mush your brain has become finally has a chance to get back to normal. At an average age of 20, that's 20 years of family traditions for Thanksgiving, so you just might be past the tipping point and need a few new ones to spice up your holiday. Here are a few new ideas and a few of my own family traditions to try out.
Breakfast
We tend to ignore breakfast in preparation of the mass of food we know we have coming, but I know everyone in my family gets crappy as their hungry grows so maybe breakfast should not be ignored. Donuts are an easy way to feed the bunch.
Turkey Trot
Every year my family wakes up and does the turkey trot! It's a simple way to not feel so guilty about those calories later and usually, the proceeds go towards a good cause. The one we participate in donates to Feeding America Tampa Bay and the Florida Hospital.
Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Because who doesn't want to see giant floats coast their way through the heart of New York City?
The Thankful Tree.
This is the most traditional tradition in my family. It started when my sisters and I were munchkins we would all trace our hands on construction paper and on each of your ten fingers you had to list something you were thankful for. We used to arrange the hands to look like the feathers of a turkey, that turkey eventually turned into a tree and now 20 years later we write our thankful thoughts on little ornament type hooks and place them on festive twigs. All three are easy ways to think about what you all are thankful for.
Play a game of kickball.
As we all know from "Friends", football games are a great way to spend your Thanksgiving. If you aren't feeling such a contact game, however, kickball games are just as fun! While the foods cooking, go outside and play a couple rounds.
Watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."
It's a classic!
Help out in the kitchen.
I know my mother does almost everything for Thanksgiving, so even the little things help. My sisters and I each take a taste (trust me they are simple). One snaps the string beans, one peel and mashes the potatoes and ones in charge of the pies.
Try pumpkin-carrot-sweet potato soup!
Good for the soul.
Make chocolate pudding pie.
My sisters and I have been making a chocolate pudding pie before I was out of diapers. It's very simple so if you want to help out, but you're not the best in the kitchen here's your best friend. Grab a pie crust, some chocolate Jell-O pudding mix, and whip cream and you're good to go.
Cranberry jalapeño dip.
Try a new appetizer with a little bit of flare!
Add turkey giblets to your stuffing.
This is my Grandma's secret to her special stuffing. The giblets give it INCREDIBLE flavor.
Turkey platter.
Make your meat and cheese or fruit platter into a turkey!
Pumpkin deviled eggs.
Add a little more spice on top of the yolk and a green stem and you've made a pumpkin!
Pies on pies.
Try every pie in the book! Make them mini so you don't get too stuffed.
Challenge someone to the wishbone.
A true battle through and through.
Set the table
A simple and easy way to help out a little.
Carve pumpkins.
Who cares if Halloween is over pumpkins are still in season!
Volunteer to give out food.
'Tis the season to do good deeds.
Watch a football game.
My family are Packers fans, so the game is always in the background that day.
Too stuffed after dinner? Take a walk around the block with your family.
Work off those turkey calories!
Black Friday.
I've never participated in Black Friday, but it's definitely an interesting way to change things up.
