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Thanksgiving Traditions and Memories
by Rachel Paxton
Family and tradition. Isn't that
what the holidays are really all about? The holidays are the one time of the
year that families come together and create memories that will stay with them
throughout a lifetime. Children who don't get to spend time with their
grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are really missing out on an
opportunity to form a bond that only close family ties can create.
I love
to learn about how other families spend their time during the holidays. Some of
people's fondest memories are from visiting with friends and relatives during
the Thanksgiving holidays. I have put together some of my favorite Thanksgiving
traditions that people have submitted to the Creative Homemaking web
site.
Jeanette...My favorite memories are of my mother's family
gathering at Grandma's house. The holiday did not begin until everyone got
there. We often played cards or other games. The most fun is when we would go
for a long walk in the country. This would include whomever wanted to go, and
would always be an adventure.
Bethany...We rotate homes every year for
Thanksgiving. Whoever's
house Thanksgiving is at makes the turkey. Everyone
else generally brings a vegetable, dessert or salad. Grandma always makes the
dressing.
Mrs. Lee...Every holiday we always would write one thing we
were thankful for on our place cards.
Shelly...One of my favorite holiday
memories is the gathering of my mother's family at her aunt's farm at
Thanksgiving. I remember gatherings including five generations with relatives we
only saw every couple of years, but with whom we shared a common ancestry and a
common faith. These bonds allowed us to become reacquainted with one another
over the course of the day and gave an almost hallowed meaning to the phrase
"family ties". Even as a child, I knew my actions reflected on my family, and I
would never do anything to bring dishonor to my family. Those family bonds are
absent for so many people these days.
Ginger...Each year my husbands
family (most of them live near) get together for the Thanksgiving meal. Each
family brings a part of the meal (decided by the hostess) and we give thanks to
God and enjoy each others company. It's a great time to catch
up.
Kathy...Making the center piece with my children when they were
little we used to go gather liquid Amber leaves and press them between two
pieces of wax paper with some scrapped crayon and name tags also in with the
leaves. The kids always looked so forward to this and we kept this up for many
years now we make different kinds the kids are older so now we bake together
instead which is a lot of fun. Having Thanksgiving at our home is tradition we
love.
About Rachel Paxton
Rachel Paxton is a freelance
writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing
more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home,
home decorating, crafts, and frugal family fun, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com and Suite 101 at http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/creative_homemaking. To
subscribe to their monthly newsletter send a blank e-mail message to FreeRecipes-subscribe@egroups.com.
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