Observed on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is one of the most meaningful holidays in the United States. What originally began as a harvest festival in honor of the early settlers and Native Americans, has evolved into a national holiday dedicated to expressing the importance of giving thanks, while also providing an opportunity for family and friends to create lasting memories. All across the country, people celebrate this holiday through various unique customs and traditions that symbolize their gratitude. Below are some examples of these customs and traditions:

Cooking a Grand Feast:

One of the most cherished Thanksgiving traditions is preparing a grand feast, which is a nod to the original harvest celebrations. Families and friends come together, filling kitchens with laughter and warmth as they cook a huge spread of delicious cuisines. “Cooking the grand Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite part of the holiday because I love to eat,” expressed Zoe Briscoe. With a laugh, she adds, “I also love the quality time it gives me with my family—but I’m mostly there for the mac n cheese.” For Briscoe and many other families, Thanksgiving is all about food—and maybe a tad bit about the meaningful moments with your loved ones during the cooking process—but mostly the food.

Watching the Football Game:

Another beloved Thanksgiving tradition is watching the football game. To some extreme fans it’s almost as important—or maybe even more—than the feast. The thrill of the game along with the company of family and friends makes it the perfect addition to the holiday traditions. There’s nothing better than kicking your feet up and sipping a nice cold beverage while you watch your favorite team play. “Football is my absolute favorite part of Thanksgiving. I’ve always loved the excitement of cheering for a team, trash talking, and betting against my friends,” shared Camron Baker. For many others like Baker, the football game is not just about the sport, it’s about bringing people together to create lasting memories. But let’s be real here, it’s also about screaming at the TV as if the players can hear you.

Decorating a Thanksgiving Tree

A new Thanksgiving tradition steadily on the rise is decorating a Thanksgiving tree. While most families begin putting up bare trees in preparation for Christmas, many people are now starting a new trend where they put up their  fir trees but instead of leaving the branches empty, they are adding Thanksgiving decorations to boost the holiday spirit. These trees are often adorned with pumpkins, fall garlands, leaves, dried flowers and more importantly thankful cards, where families write what they are grateful for. “My family keeps our Christmas tree up year round and usually it remains decorated in Christmas decorations,” said Briscoe. “But last year, we began a new tradition to put thankful cards on the tree instead to show appreciation for each other during the Thanksgiving season.” This new tradition of decorating a thankful tree creates a meaningful way to show gratitude and spirit during the Thanksgiving season, while also having the tree prepared for the upcoming winter holiday.

Thanksgiving symbolizes gratitude, togetherness and creating memories, making it one of the most beloved holidays in America. Whether it’s cooking a grand feast, watching the football game, or decorating a Thanksgiving tree, each tradition this November 28 reflects the unique values of this cherished holiday and the way it brings people together.