Thanksgiving As A Family Occasion

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Sunday, January 31st, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed

Although Thanksgiving is not called by the same name everywhere, it is still celebrated in many countries, and in many different ways around the world. You will find Succoth in Israel, Pongal in south India and the Moon Festival as it is called in the Far East; you will find a version of the Thanksgiving tradition in numerous other areas as well. Yet even with a holiday that is steeped in history and tradition, you can still create your own new Thanksgiving traditions.

When considering new Thanksgiving Day celebrations and traditions to add to your family’s repertoire, consider getting out of the house and having a game of football. Of course if small children will be involved, then touch football is recommended. If you choose to do this before dinner it can build up a great appetite to bring to the Thanksgiving dinner table. Or, play after dinner but before dessert to make room for all of those wonderful pumpkin and apple pies.

If looking for new Thanksgiving traditions, then try putting your turkey into the oven to roast early in the morning and then getting everyone up to watch the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Your mouth will be watering with all of the wonderful aroma’s filling the house and you can run to the kitchen to baste the turkey during the breaks.

When you have children, it is a wonderful time to treasure old traditions, yet why not create a new family tradition this year? Consider making Thanksgiving a mini-history lesson. If your children are young, then start by reading an easy to understand picture book together that tells the story of Thanksgiving. Perhaps as they get a little older you can put on a play about the first Thanksgiving or have everyone try to come up with little known facts about it; or have them tell you about Thanksgiving in another part of the world. Anything that tells a little bit about the history of Thanksgiving is perfect.

New Thanksgiving traditions can be anything that you and your family want them to be, and one idea is to expand on the already existing theme of sharing. Not everyone is fortunate to have family near them, or even have any family at all. So consider inviting someone to share your Thanksgiving if you know that they will be alone. Show just exactly what Thanksgiving is all about to your children. Invite someone without family to celebrate with into your home; someone who may otherwise spend this holiday in sadness and solitude. Perhaps this is one tradition that you can instill in your children and they will pass this important message on to their children as well.

Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed panic attacks help as well as tips on the various medications for panic disorder available at www.anxietydisordercure.com.

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