Written By: Helena Pierry

As November draws to a close, Thanksgiving and its joyful festivities are on everyone’s mind. The traditions that appear every year are what make this holiday so special. Whether someone is eating turkey with their family, decorating their house with fall decorations, or having a nice dinner with friends, the upcoming five-day break offers a chance to pause and give thanks. 

Freshman Nina Krishnan ‘29 certainly does not miss out on all the excitement that Thanksgiving has to offer. Krishnan spends the special day surrounded by family. She says, “My aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, and grandpa from my dad’s side come over to eat dinner and talk all night.” Krishnan loves the food aspect of Thanksgiving, often creating memories cooking with her mom. Her favorite food to eat and help make is sweet potato with marshmallows on top. Despite her love for the food, Krishnan states that her favorite part of the night is when “my cousins and I get over the awkward stage of the night and become closer with each other.” Krishnan uses Thanksgiving as an opportunity to catch up with her family members and create lasting memories. 

Another student who makes the most out of Thanksgiving is Charley Kercher ‘28. Kercher explains that she spends the day “surrounded by my entire extended family at a nice meal watching football and playing games during the day.” While sometimes feeling overwhelmed during the busy day, Kercher states that “cooking makes me feel useful.” While in the kitchen, she can be seen making mac and cheese and peeling potatoes. Perhaps afterwards, some of the potatoes she peeled will turn into mashed potatoes, her favorite dish. Kercher claims that “mashed potatoes hit differently on Thanksgiving.” When asked if her traditions have changed over time, Kercher mentioned that “it used to just be my immediate family, but we started adding more and more characters every year.” Even though her day might not be spent exactly as it used to be, Kercher still holds fond memories of past Thanksgivings. She claims that her favorite memory has to be “when I was little, my great aunt made me and my sisters collect pinecones and cover them in glitter to decorate. It made a mess, but it’s a cute memory.” Kercher definitely knows how to make the most of a day that is filled with family, gratitude, and food. 

Alicia Levy ‘29 adores this joyous holiday as it allows her a chance to get together with family and catch up over a delicious meal. Levy says, “I usually celebrate by going to my grandparents’ house and eating dinner with my close relatives. My family and I cook before going over and my grandparents also cook, so we usually have a lot of food.” Levy especially loves hanging out with her family. While talking about the holiday, she states, “it’s the time where everyone gets together and shares what they are grateful for, and it’s a fun time.” Even though Levy loves savory dishes, her two favorite being mac and cheese and chicken, she is not a cook herself. Levy prefers to bake, saying that she bakes “banana bread and banana muffins with my dad for dessert while my mom and other relatives usually do the cooking.” Since she was young, Levy has spent most of her Thanksgivings in her grandparents house eating, playing, and talking. Levy’s favorite memory of Thanksgiving is “probably my brother and I playing Wii, and my aunts playing with us. Also, I love when my aunts play card games with my brother and I, like Uno or Phase.” Whether it is playing games with her brother or sharing a wonderful meal with her family, Levy truly makes the most out of this lovely holiday. 

Thanksgiving is a time that brings families together and allows everyone to enjoy and catch up with loved ones. The traditions that occur each and every year allows everyone to stay excited for this holiday and all the memories it brings.