Countdown to Thanksgiving, Day 11: It's Tradition

To catch up on Megan Swoyer's first 10 steps of the “turkey day” planning process, read the full series. 

Thanksgiving is turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. It’s pulling on warm sweaters and indulging on warm pies. It’s Jell-O, football, wine toasts, good china and whipped cream.

But it’s also rutabagas and Neil Diamond music. Yep. On Nov. 24 the Chisholms of Huntington Woods tuck their forks into a not-exactly-popular-but-totally-traditional rutabaga dish, while the Cherry family of Macomb Township taps their toes to a special Neil Diamond tune.   

It’s those quirky traditions and absolute must-dos that make Thanksgiving our own.

My own “it’s-not-Thanksgiving-until-we-do-this” tradition involves a couple of wax figurines. Every year in my dining room, you’ll see two 3-inch dime-store candles shaped like a pilgrim girl and boy.

I get them out right before Thanksgiving and place them somewhere among my décor. This year, I’ve taken them to the “seashore,” and propped them between two starfish (which have meaning, too, another story, another time) on a side table. Those petite wax children meant the world to me when I was growing up.

Every year, my mom would say on Thanksgiving morning, “Megan, help me get the candle box out.”  She’d then get on her tiptoes and reach high for a shelf in what we called “the broom closet” (the broom was one of 4,000 items in this closet just off the kitchen).

In sheer delight I’d remove old rubber bands from the beat-up shoe box, lift the lid and carefully unfold the aged tissue paper that held our little pilgrim candles, likely purchased in the 1950s (a sticker on the bottom says they were 15 cents each, made by the Gurley Co. of Buffalo, NY). I’d then circle the candles around my mom’s fresh, floral centerpiece.

Their sweet little faces charmed me every year. The quaint harbingers of the holiday season would visit our table each November for just a few days, defining tradition for me. They enchant, as tradition does. They stir up heartwarming, vivid memories — another “tradition requirement.” And they’re on a special schedule … “every year we do this, every holiday we do this …,” say those who celebrate tradition.

And, hey! They’ve recently been deemed truly special by “our lady of the holiday,” Martha! In an article in her magazine and on her site, the wax figurines star as “old-fashioned whimsies.”

The candles do “more than set a blithe tone for gatherings. The little wax figures spark warm reminiscences that link generations of family and friends.” And that is Thanksgiving! 

Others Share How They Make Thanksgiving Their Own:

Consider entertainment: “We have two very active grandsons, so I spend time thinking about toys and games and make them available in our basement play area. We adults hang out as well. Currently the foosball table is the center of attraction.” — Camille Chisholm, Huntington Woods

Savor a dish: The Brandstetter family of Highland makes their father/grandfather’s famous cranberry relish every year in memory of him, and they always have a laugh about forgetting to serve it. “We had a closed-in room at the back of the house that was not heated, so he would put the cranberries outside to cool after cooking them. When we would all arrive, and the wonderful meal began, he would forgot the cranberries every year and would find them much later.” — Nancy McCauley Branstetter, Highland

“My husband peels and finely chops rutabagas for a rutabaga dish. It's a tradition. He did that for his family. No one really likes rutabagas but meand my husband. Our daughter-in-law’s green bean casserole is much more popular.” — Camille Chisholm, Huntington Woods

Say a little prayer: “We pray for the safety of everyone and that will be very special this year with my nephew joining the Navy with designs on becoming a Navy Seal.” — Nancy McCauley Branstetter, Highland

Make it a family affair (and add corn): The Cherry family’s Thanksgiving touches include, “seven-layer Jell-O made the day before (it takes all day); Christmas dishes with the Winterberry pattern (by Pfaltzgraff), which put us in a happy, joyous mood; America’s Thanksgiving Parade; and Neil Diamond's 'Cherry Cherry Christmas.'" ("I tell the family it's our anthem and that it was written for us. I know it’s corny, but I don't care.”) — Peggy Cherry, Macomb Township          

Pause for reflection: “Times have been hard for a lot of people and we are so thankful for what we have and that we have each other.” — Peggy Cherry, Macomb Township

Write it down: “We write on a scroll what we are thankful for and tie it with a beautiful ribbon and put it in a bowl. The following year we look back through all the old ones and add new ones. The kids love to see what they wrote and to also see how much their handwriting has changed. My youngest usually draws a picture and we write what she says. It is really fun and makes you realize that every year the things you are thankful for are usually your family and friends.” — Beth North, Birmingham

Play good music: I downloaded a pre-selected playlist from Good Housekeeping. It includes the “Peanuts Thanksgiving Theme,” Natalie Cole singing “Thankful,” and “Sweet Potato Pie” with James Taylor and Ray Charles. It saves time downloading each individual song. You can always incorporate a few family favorites at the end of the iTunes playlist and customize the list. Or create your own using some of the song ideas on the playlist.” – Susan Keels, Troy