As the the end of November approaches, the Thanksgiving holiday season draws near. Thanksgiving is one of America’s most popular holidays. It’s most famous practices are watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, reuniting with family, watching football, and who could forget the meal?

Everybody knows that Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without the food or family. In fact, on Thanksgiving consumers spend approximately  2.4 billion dollars on food and 46.3 million people travel to see family (U.S. News). Mr. Hopper, a math teacher, said “We have Thanksgiving with my wife’s family. It’s always Thanksgiving with her family.” Mr. Hopper isn’t the only one who travels to see family though. Allison Cookes, an EHS security guard, added “Usually I like to travel with my family to visit other family members on Thanksgiving”

Family gatherings are a common heartwarming experience that we all look forward to. I can’t imagine my Thanksgiving without my mom helping me get the giblets out of the Turkey or my little brother asking if he could help me stuff the turkey. I’m not the only person that enjoys the small details my family adds to the holiday.  Ashlyn Turmenne, explained, ¨My favorite Thanksgiving activity is watching football with my family. Although I don’t quite understand fully what’s going on, I really enjoy the togetherness I feel when my whole family is crowded in the living room”

But of course who can forget the primetime game and parade? Vicky Coon, the library clerk, stated “My mom and I had a tradition where we would watch the Parade every morning, and I still watch it as I cook. Now my grandson promises me that he’ll watch it with me.”

Clearly, the best part of Thanksgiving is family. Everyone seems to have at least one memorable tradition that they share with their family.

Mr. DeRose, a Dean, stated, “My family doesn’t usually get together, but we really spend time together on Thanksgiving. We just all sit down at the table and talk over a cup of coffee.”

Although it may seem like family is an essential part of Thanksgiving, it’s not just their presence that matters it’s the small things that they do.

For me, it’s waking up in the morning with my siblings so we can get the turkey out of the brine. It’s getting my dad to help me butter the turkey, it’s shooing my brother when he annoys me. It’s every little thing my family puts into that one day.

Vice Principal Rosenberry hits the nail on the head, “Just being together. It’s about food, but it’s more about being with family for me.”