The school year has been going by so fast, and it’s almost Thanksgiving break! Whether you host Thanksgiving dinner, go over to someone’s house or you’re not really a Thanksgiving person, people celebrate this day in many different ways. In preparation for the upcoming break, I asked students and teachers about some of their Thanksgiving traditions. Keep reading to find out what the Rosary and Servite communities do on Turkey Day!
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude. Bridget Santana ’27 shared how she and her family highlight their thankfulness for each other: “We go around the table and say one thing that we are grateful for about every person.” This is a wholesome opportunity to express your gratitude for your family and is something you should try this Thanksgiving. Adding on to her family tradition, Bridget explained, “We go to Palm Springs a rent a house.” This sounds like such a fun trip and going to Palm Springs should help escape the winter cold that is coming in.
Servite senior Elliott Hood described his family’s Thanksgiving tradition that also focuses on gratitude: “My family and I always make a thankful ring during the Thanksgiving season. We cut strips of paper and write something we’re thankful for: friends, family, our faith, etc. With all the different strips, we create loops and intertwine each on together to make a long chain of thankfulness. We display that ring all through the Christmas season to remind us how much we have to be thankful for.” There are so many things to be thankful for, and this craft is a beautiful way to reflect on everything we’re blessed with.
Additionally, Thanksgiving is known to be a time for family connection. When asked about any fun family Thanksgiving traditions, Servite junior Ryan Kovats said, “Usually during Thanksgiving break, I have a hockey tournament. A lot of my family from out of town comes to see my games, so it’s really nice when they come out for Thanksgiving. Also, after Thanksgiving dinner, usually my family goes to the movie theater to watch a movie.” Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to catch up with family members you haven’t seen in a while. We wish the best of luck to Ryan and any other athletes competing over break!
Señora Kappe ’03, one of Rosary’s Spanish teachers, shared how her family has a personal connection to the holiday: “In my family, our Thanksgiving traditions include visiting with family and family friends, eating delicious food, playing games and talking about what we are most grateful for. My mom died the day after Thanksgiving twelve years ago, and I always make sure to visit her grave during this time because Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday!” Never take for granted the connections you make with your family or the time you have. The holiday season can be very special for families who don’t usually see each other on a regular basis.
Thanksgiving is a time for fun activities. Servite’s AP World History teacher Mr. Marshall gave us a look into what it’s like for a teacher on Thanksgiving. He shared about the fun activities him and his family participate in each year: “Our tradition for Thanksgiving is definitely rooted in family and fun. We usually do brunch instead of a dinner, FaceTime family back east, arts and crafts and then finish the day with football and epic Mario Kart races!” Wow, that sounds like quite the exciting day! It’s cool to see that the Marshall family takes their own spin as a Thanksgiving brunch instead of dinner.
Fun Thanksgiving traditions are very popular; as Sophie Figueroa ’26 explained, “Every Thanksgiving, my dad’s family comes over and we have a huge meal. We do it potluck style, so basically each family member brings their own specialty dish. We all eat and watch football together.” Sophie’s family highlights how everyone contributes to the meal like a potluck, which is so amazing, and Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a great football game!
Tell us in the comments about any fun Thanksgiving traditions you have with your family and maybe this year is the year to start your new favorite tradition. If you’re not a huge fan of Thanksgiving, don’t worry, there’s only about 5 weeks until Christmas. Have a great break, and happy Thanksgiving!
