Our favorite parts of the holiday
As temperatures drop and holiday spirits rise, The Hawk staff is excited for a long weekend meant to celebrate Thanksgiving with those we love. From eating mounds of mashed potatoes, gathering around our TVs for early parades, answering countless questions from family members and of course enjoying the few, blessed days off from class, we all have our own holiday traditions to cherish.
We wanted to share our own pieces of the holiday spirit that we look forward to every year. Bundle up in some blankets with a steaming cup of coffee so you can share our love of the holidays and reminisce about some of your own Thanksgiving memories.
Our favorite parts about Thanksgiving are…
“…My alma mater, Easton Area High School, has a turkey day football game against their 111 year old rival, Phillipsburg High School. I always love watching the game with my extended family, and being with my family in general always makes me happy.” —Vivian Milan
“…Spending time with family and friends, eating good food, watching Christmas movies and seeing everything decorated for the holidays.” —Franki Rudnesky
“…Eating way too much food, then staying up late after a good nap to go Black Friday shopping at midnight with my high school friends.” —Emma Seely
“…That my family is together again all at the same time. We just sit around our house and do nothing except watch TV and eat. Plus the amazing food that comes with the holiday is a bonus.” —Charley Rekstis
“…Watching the movie “Christmas Vacation” on Black Friday. We cook for Thanksgiving, but then my family is ready to move on to the Christmas spirit almost immediately. It wouldn’t be the holidays without the classic Griswold family and buckets of popcorn to go with it.” —Brittany Swift
“…Listening to ‘Thankful’ by Josh Groban on repeat during Thanksgiving dinner. Just kidding, we listen to Christmas music, too.” —Ann Marie Maloney
“…A time to forget about the petty and materialistic notions of life and embrace being together and being grateful. If only I could get Walmart to feel the same way.” —Rose Weldon
“…My personal traditions: watching the parade on Thanksgiving, special Thanksgiving dishes (crab stuffing, go Maryland!), decorating my house for Christmas and listening to Christmas music on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner. I love how November and December are one constant holiday celebration.” —Emily Graham
“…Spending time with my family and eating my mom’s green bean casserole and pineapple stuffing.” —Nick Mandarano
“…Being surrounded by family. Getting to spend time with my family eating comfort food is why this time of year is the best.” —Alex Hargrave
“…Being fortunate enough to come home and spend time with most of my family and friends. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, from the food, reflecting on all I’m thankful for and the sense of coziness the time of year brings.” —Amber Denham
“…Finally getting to see my family and sharing delicious food. The holidays are times when joy is everywhere, and that’s what makes it my favorite time of year—not to mention that mashed potatoes and stuffing is the world’s greatest combo. Seeing people come together and share a sense of community and love is inspiring.” —Becky Hartman
“…The fact that it is a holiday based solely around two of my favorite things: family and food. I love to sit at the kids’ table with my cousins and watch my uncles argue about politics. I love the turkey, the stuffing and, most importantly, the pie. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to express my gratitude for all these things.” —Kaitlyn Patterson
“…My family’s tradition of writing down what we are thankful for and then reading aloud what one of our other family members wrote.” —Luke Malanga
“…Spending quality time with my immediate family. My sister comes down from New York and we watch movies with our parents by the fire. It’s very peaceful.” —Victoria Tralies
“…That I get to eat a lot of food, take a nap, watch football and then eat dessert (in that order). I also love getting to spend time with family that I don’t get to see often, and hanging out with my cousins.” —Anna Smollen
“…Each Thanksgiving, my dad typically stands up and makes a toast to ‘those who are with us and those who are not.’ According to my grandma, it’s bad luck to forget to individually clink your glass and say cheers to every person at the table. As simple as this tradition may be, it has helped me realize how grateful I am for the people around me especially as my family has changed in size over the years.” —Kelly Smith
“…The feeling of connectivity that comes with these holidays. The feeling associated with strengthening the relationships with those we love.” —Mike Zito
“…Thanksgiving dessert at my Mommom’s house. Those moments surrounded by my family with the dining room so loud you can’t even hear yourself think are the perfect way to end Thanksgiving Day.” —Max Milano
—The Hawk Staff
