Our Holiday Traditions
The Thanksgiving holiday is a highlight for me every year. For me, it is full of all of the sights, sounds and scents of family and tradition. And if I am nothing else, I am a huge fan of tradition! I believe tradition creates memories for a lifetime and binds our families together in ways that are unique to us.
So, what does a traditional Thanksgiving weekend look like on the Farm?
Thanksgiving Day:
Thursday is all about food, football and the classic movies. We start our day with Grandma Moir’s Cinnamon Rolls and mimosas alongside a large pot of strong coffee in the percolator… just like my Grandma Brown used to make. Since this day is a pretty heavy food day, I try to add in as many fresh elements as possible, so fresh fruit and vegetables are served at every meal.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on the TV just like it was when I was a kid.
Preparation for our Thanksgiving meal usually starts a day or two ahead of time. I bake heavy loaves of bread to cube and dry for Joe’s Homemade Stuffing, cook and can Homemade Cranberry Sauce, ready my Ten Grain Dinner Rolls for the oven, and prepare pies that will be baked later in the day on Thanksgiving. (check out my Homemade Apple Pie recipe here)
We round out the menu with some other classics… green bean casserole (my daughter’s favorite), mashed potatoes (My family doesn’t enjoy yams or sweet potatoes… I know, sad right?) and a green salad as well as the turkey, of course!
I know what you’re thinking. Perhaps you’re overdoing it a bit. Yes. Yes, I am. My family knows that I just don’t seem to operate any other way! I love it, though. I love everything about it!
We spend the rest of the day in a food coma interlaced with watching the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game and It’s a Wonderful Life.
Friday:
Although we’ve spent a few frosty early morning hours standing in front of a store on Black Friday, at our house it isn’t common. There has rarely been anything we needed so desperately that we would need to lose sleep over it. Now, of course, they start Black Friday sales at the beginning of November! Something for everyone and you can still be sleeping at 5am. Winning!
Shopping day tends to be for just us girls, and they boys stay at home watching football and hanging out together. Turkey Sliders are always on the menu and this is a day that Mama doesn’t cook as there are lots of leftovers and plenty capable chefs! Hot Buttered Rum in the evening by the fire is a great way to close this day.
Saturday:
Out here on the Farm, we definitely live remotely. My husband wanted land with timber, and he got it! And what we don’t have on our own property, our neighbors have in spades. Our property borders over a thousand acres of timbered range land.
Saturday is the day we all climb in the pick-up and head out to get our Christmas tree! But tradition being what it is, we don’t head out to the forest because we have always cut our Christmas tree at a local tree farm. So, even though we live in one of the most forested regions of our state, we stick with our family tradition.
Back home and we are clearing out and cleaning up and making space for the tree in our small but cozy living room. Boxes of ornaments and decorations are brought in from the shop and in the evening we watch Muppet Christmas Carol while the kids decorate the tree.
Sunday:
Although we’ve had seasons that made going to church difficult because of family health issues, attending church on Thanksgiving weekend seems like the best way to kick off the holiday season. It gives us the blessed reminder that the reason we celebrate is because Jesus came to earth as the best Christmas gift of all time. It sets us on a firm foundation for the season and reminds us where our focus should be.
Thank you, God, for the blessing of Your Son who sacrificed Himself for our salvation and our life here on Earth while we faithfully wait for His return.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12
