34 Unique Thanksgiving Traditions Your Family and Friends Will Adore
Think outside of the pumpkin pie.
There are a few essentials for every Thanksgiving celebration: family, friends, festive tunes, a few bottles of exquisite wine, an even tastier menu, pie... and more pie. Beyond that, well, it's up to you. Over the years, your crew has likely developed some old family traditions associated with Turkey Day, from the food you serve for Thanksgiving dinner (hello, Grandma's famous gravy recipe) to what you do before and after you eat, like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, breaking out a good book or a challenging jigsaw puzzle, or even playing a mid-afternoon game of football.
If you're looking for new ways to make the holiday even more memorable, you've come to the right place. Ahead, we've compiled a list of our favorite modern Thanksgiving traditions—and not all are about food: You could kick off the day with a turkey trot (or, if you're like us, a Bloody Mary bar), host a post-dinner game night or movie marathon, take a group photo in matching, holiday-themed pajamas, make DIY place cards, set up a video call with your farthest-flung loved ones, and so much more. You might even consider rotating hosting duties or shopping for the big meal with a friend or relative to lighten the load.
No matter where you're celebrating (in America or abroad with other expats) and how (with friends, as a family, or just as a couple), all these ideas for new Thanksgiving traditions are sure to make you count your blessings and feel more grateful than ever.
Write down what you're thankful for.
In all the fun and frenzy, it can be easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Dole out black Sharpies and, before digging in, invite each guest to write what they're thankful for on a butcher paper cloth laid over the table. You can archive the sheets to look back on fondly.
Indulge in a pie breakfast.
Instead of starving yourself until 3 p.m., start the day right (and expand your stomach a little!) with a pie breakfast. Try one of these killer recipes, which, by the way, are equally delicious the day after.
Set up a Bloody Mary bar.
While the dinner's roasting and baking, set out a Bloody Mary bar so guests can make their own brunch classic as they mingle and watch the parade. Bonus points for over-the-top garnishes like bacon, shrimp, and lobster.
Connect with family members far away.
One of the few upsides to the downtime we had earlier in the pandemic? There are now more ways than ever to connect with your nearest and dearest—no matter how far they may be. Keep that going this year and invite anyone who cam't make it to your gathering to join in on the festivities...virtually. Set up a virtual happy hour or a video call before, after, or even during your meal with those who can't make it to the table, so they'll feel like they're there.
Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Take part in one of the oldest Thanksgiving traditions, a.k.a. the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! The first one took place in 1924. Following a scaled-down 2020 event, the parade returned in its full form in 2021—complete with live musical performances, iconic giant balloons, decorated floats, and, yes, an appearance from Santa. This year, Macy's will host their 96th annual parade starting at 9:00 AM. Why not watch from the comfort of your couch?
Collect canned goods.
It's only natural to demonstrate gratitude by trying to give back on Thanksgiving, but instead of volunteering at a soup kitchen—many of which are overrun on that single day, but then forgotten about later—why not invite your guests to each bring canned foods to donate?
Make personalized place cards.
Before the big day, send around a guest list and ask everybody to share one thing they love or respect about each guest. Compile the compliments on a place card with each guest's name, so they'll sit to find a heartwarming list of anonymous appreciation.
Keep a gratitude jar.
Make Thanksgiving a 365-day affair. Throughout the year, keep a gratitude jar of gestures you appreciate from family and friends you know you'll see in November. Pull out the jar post-dinner and share the gestures that warmed hearts.
Organize an ornament exchange.
When Santa's sleigh appears at the end of the Macy's Parade, the festive holiday season officially begins. For those who celebrate Christmas, invite each Thanksgiving guest to bring an ornament to exchange to kick off the holidays and keep the joy going through December.
Watch a classic holiday movie.
Stave off turkey coma by gathering together in front of the TV after dessert to watch a classic Thanksgiving movie together: Pick the same movie every year, or have fun letting a different family member choose the film each time.
Craft a beautiful centerpiece.
Few things are more annoying (and potentially disastrous) for Thanksgiving hosts than having too many cooks in the kitchen—literally. So to keep your guests entertained while you finish whipping up the big feast, ask them to create a showstopping centerpiece for the table. Depending on how much time you're trying to kill, you can either set up everything your guests will need—fall-hued florals, pint-sized pumpkins, wispy branches, multi-colored gourds, scented pinecones, a few fallen leaves—or you can send them outside first to forage for some seasonal supplies.
Play a game of charades.
Get your friends together post-dinner for a good-old-fashioned game of charades, sure to bring on the giggles (and impress you with skills you never knew Nana had). Or try one of these games.
Host a Thanksgiving potluck.
No need to spend hours in the kitchen solo. Everybody's got their superstar recipe: the one passed down through the generations or borrowed from friends that they swear by. Get guests into the fun by inviting everybody to bring their best dish. As long as you've got all the major bases covered, who says you can't have four different types of stuffing?
Hand out party favors.
Keep the spirit of giving alive with little gifts that your guests can take home at the end of the night. It’ll be a sweet surprise, and they’ll be filled with warm memories of the amazing time spent together. Out of ideas? This bestselling Williams Sonoma Caramel Apple Pie Quick Bread Mix and Village Candle Spiced Pumpkin Large Apothecary Jar are great options to start with.
Ask everyone to make a Thanksgiving toast.
A twist on the popular "everybody say what you're thankful for," encourage each guest around the table to stand up and make their own Thanksgiving toast reflecting on the previous year. Here are some Thanksgiving quotes to get everyone started.
Send guests home with leftovers.
Thanksgiving dinner is the meal that keeps on giving—especially if, like us, you always end up with a mountain of extra food. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the leftovers filling your fridge, send each guest home with a few leftovers and a couple of recipes for turning them into something new, like a turkey club sandwich or waffles made from stuffing and topped with cranberry sauce. Even better: Ask each person to bring their own container, so you don't spend the rest of the year chasing down yours.
Let the kids serve dessert.
Why should adults have all the fun? Get your kids on the action by inviting them to serve dessert. Better yet, let them help make a pie and serve their own tasty creations (alongside more professional offerings, too, of course).
Dine alfresco.
If you live in a climate that will support it, consider eating Thanksgiving dinner outside. Being closer to nature reminds you of what's important—a literal breath of fresh air.
Try a new recipe.
Who says Thanksgiving demands stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce? This year, spice things up and replace one holiday staple with something a little bit out of the ordinary—from delicious dishes that celebrate your strong cultural ties (like veggie-filled Japchae or baked flan) to family-favorite recipes passed down through the generations (like the sweet potato casserole recipe your mother clipped from the side of a box in the 1950s or your great-great-grandmother's handwritten recipe for sticky buns) to a fresh take on a beloved holiday side dish (think: smoked turkey and spicy cranberry sauce).
Write down your wishes.
If you're like most people, you probably share what you're thankful for each Thanksgiving—but the holiday is the perfect time to also reflect on your hopes and aspirations for the coming year. A day or two before Thanksgiving, gather a few nice branches from outside, cover them with gold, silver, or copper spray paint, and anchor them in a vase or pot with stones at the base. Then, as your guests arrive, invite each person to write what they're wishing for on a tag or card that they can hang on the branches you collected. Not only will you have a striking centerpiece for your table this year, but you'll also hopefully have even more to be thankful for next year.
Nadine Jolie Courtney is a lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in Town & Country, Robb Report, and Angeleno; a graduate of Barnard College, her fourth book, All-American Muslim Girl, was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2019. She lives in Santa Monica, California, where she posts too many photos of her daughter on Instagram.
Jane Burnett is an Assistant Editor at Oprah Daily, where she writes a variety of lifestyle content for the editorial team. She's a journalist with a pop culture sweet tooth—when she isn't catching up on celebrity news, she's usually listening to a podcast! Jane was previously an on-air reporter in local news, and worked at Thrive Global, Ladders News, and Reuters. She also interned at CNBC through the Emma Bowen Foundation, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
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