Thanksgiving is a very important holiday in the United States. The first Thanksgiving was held as a way to celebrate a year of prosperity in the new colonies of Great Britain. This celebration featured the native people of the Americas and the Pilgrims, who arrived on the Mayflower. This holiday carried on from that first Thanksgiving in 1621 to the present day, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
One notable Thanksgiving tradition is a short race, often called a “Turkey Trot.” These races are held in numerous towns all over the country, encouraging residents to partake as a way to bring the community together around the beloved holiday. This tradition is so popular among families as it creates something to look forward to each year as a fun, active activity. This race also creates the idea in people’s minds that if they run before they load up on all sorts of Thanksgiving treats, they will maintain good health. Although so much benefit comes with the race, many teenagers decline the option to run as a way to catch up on sleep. Hingham Middle School student and past runner, Patrick Carey, remarked when asked if he was running this year, “6:30 wakeup! Not worth it!” The Turkey Trot can be traced back to Buffalo, New York in 1896, where the local YMCA hosted an 8k race. The Turkey Trot is an excellent way to bring people together and stay active on Thanksgiving.
Another famous Thanksgiving Tradition is the game of football. Whether families are sitting on the couch watching an NFL game, or in the backyard, the majority of Thanksgiving events have some sort of football component. This tradition can bring people together and make Thanksgiving just a little bit more fun and special. Although this tradition is very enjoyable, it can also be dangerous. Based on a survey run by ABC news a few years ago, over 1,000 Americans were injured in their favorite Thanksgiving tradition. Thanksgiving typically features three NFL games on Thanksgiving, such as this year. The six teams lucky enough to be watched nation-wide at Thanksgiving events were the Lions, Bears, Giants, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Packers. When asked about this tradition, Hingham High School student Lucca Arata stated, “Watching and playing football makes Thanksgiving a top-tier holiday.” Football is without a doubt an amazing Thanksgiving Tradition.
