Best and Worst Thanksgiving Traditions

The holiday season is full of many traditions, some are good and some are not very festive here are my favorites and my not-so-favorites.

MaryKate Lillis, Reporter

Dec 14, 2023

Opinion

According to Mecca, over 80% of Americans consume turkey on Thanksgiving meaning this popular bird is a popular tradition among many American households. However, I do not approve of this tradition. I find the taste of turkey to be very lackluster, I understand that it is an American tradition but I dont see why ham or steak could be equally as popular.

On the other hand, one of my favorite traditions is watching the Macy’s Day parade. Personally, I watch it every morning with my family. The Macy’s Day parade has been going on since 1924 and is an American staple full of colorful balloons and live performances. To me, it brings cheer and excitement for the Christmas season and embodies the spirit of the holidays.

Instead of cozying up on the couch, some families like to get up early and go for a run! The turkey trot is a popular tradition and takes a healthier spin on the normal Thanksgiving feast. I think this a genius idea. Getting your family out and exercising before the big meal of the day is a perfect way to start your day.

Not only is exercising a popular Thanksgiving tradition but watching people exercise is one as well! According to the NFL, 34.1 million people tune in to watch football on the holiday. I think this isn’t a good Thanksgiving tradition because I feel it doesn’t cultivate a connection with family. I know the uncles and cousins might bond while watching the game but I feel as though it doesn’t bring together the whole family.

Breaking the wishbone is something I look forward to every year. A wishbone is a small bone inside the turkey that two people pull and whoever gets the bigger end their wish comes true! As silly as this tradition sounds, it is something me and my baby cousins always get a kick out of during the holidays and it also becomes competitive of who is going to win. I think this is one of the best and most unique Thanksgiving traditions.

The final tradition that I am not the biggest fan of is taking a nap. After stuffing faces with the big holiday meal going into a food coma is a popular American choice to spend there time on the holidays. I think that there are more effective ways to spend time with family rather than sleeping, instead spend quality time and talk with them instead.

About the Contributor

MaryKate Lillis, Podcast Editor

MaryKate Lillis is a senior and second-year staffer on Le Journal. She loves playing soccer, watching love island, and drinking diet coke! One of her favorite hobbies is nannying and taking care of kids, which makes her so excited to potentially work with them in the future! MaryKate is most passionate about revamping Sion Student Media’s podcast, making it something students can enjoy every week! MaryKate is most excited to spend her last moments of senior year making memories with her friends and soaking in every good and bad memory. One of her biggest pieces of advice is, “Don’t let your mind convince you you can’t do something, on my first year of Le Journel I was always siking myself out thinking I couldn’t complete all my tasks on time. My biggest piece of advice is find a niche that you are passionate about and share it with your piers, you never know how your creative ideas can benefit the staff and the project your working together as a team!”