Happy November! The seasons are changing rapidly and we’re quickly approaching a new year. Once November begins, people often skip over Thanksgiving and focus straight on Christmas, but Thanksgiving is a holiday that should be appreciated more. Here is a list of some ways to celebrate this holiday season.
- The Turkey Trot
These are events where many come dressed up as turkeys to participate in a three to five mile run. These are usually for charity. The first ever Turkey Trot was in Buffalo, NY in 1896 with only 6 participants! Women weren’t allowed to compete until 1972. Some upcoming Turkey Trots here in Maryland are The Turkey Trot for Project Echo in Prince Frederick, Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Annapolis, the Hagerstown Community College Turkey Trot, and the Turkey Trot in Downtown Frederick.
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
This annual event began in 1924 and takes place in Manhattan, NY. This is the largest parade in the world and is televised nationwide on Thanksgiving Day since 1953. This parade showcases multiple enormous floats of famous cartoon and pop culture characters. Performances from marching bands and renowned singers and celebrities also take place during the parade. Some guest stars this year include T-Pain, Jimmy Fallon, Charlie D’Amelio, Natti Natasha, and The Temptations.
- Turkey Bowling
This is a sport based on regular bowling, where a frozen turkey is used as a bowling ball and plastic bottles as the bowling pins. Derrick Johnson claims to have invented turkey bowling when he worked at a grocery store in 1988, Newport Beach, California, when he saw a manager slide a frozen turkey across the floor and accidentally topple over a soda bottle. Derrick also took on the role of developing rules and terminology for this sport, such as “the fowl line” (“foul line”), “the gobbler” (three strikes in a row), the “Butterball” (a gutter ball) and “the wishbone” (a 7-10 split). I suggest searching around your local area for Turkey Bowling events and encourage you as well to begin playing yourself!
- Breaking a Wishbone
Wishbones can be found in turkey. There is a Y-shaped bone that gets removed and set aside to dry. Once the thanksgiving meal is over, two people make their wishes and break the wishbone. It’s said that the one who broke off the bigger piece will have their wish fulfilled and good luck in the coming year.
- Turkey Pardoning
This tradition has officially occurred since 1989, where a US President pardons a turkey prior to Thanksgiving. During a televised ceremony, the President is presented with a live turkey who he then pardons, by sending the turkey to live at Mount Vernon, which is the former property of prior President George Washington as opposed to being eaten for Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness and gratitude. I hope this list was helpful in finding new activities to do with family and create heartful memories that you can carry with you every year. Have a happy Thanksgiving!