Strictly speaking, Thanksgiving is traditionally disastrous for me. I mean we're talking medical catastrophes of epic proportions.
OK, maybe not that bad. But not good. At any rate, I'll spare you the gory details. But it's still funny in that these things always befall me just before one of the best holidays of the year.
Yet, despite this evil twist of fate, Thanksgiving remains my favorite holiday for a number of reasons that, in a large part, have a lot to do with traditions.
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Tradition No. 1: Thanksgiving Eve. I never really appreciated Thanksgiving Eve until I went away to New York for college. There's nothing like coming home, knowing that all your friends and family are coming home too. So what better time for a little impromptu reunion?
Someone told me last year that Thanksgiving Eve is one of the top party nights of the year. This was surprising to me, but it shouldn't have been. Thanksgiving Eve is like the effortlessly cool kid surrounded by the posers – New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July – holidays that exude pressure to do something fabulous and fun despite the fact that they turn out to comprise nothing more than the elements of a glorified, half-decent Saturday night.
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Thanksgiving Eve, I raise my glass to you.
Tradition No. 2: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After I've sufficiently toasted Thanksgiving Eve, I stumble my way back to my bed and awaken only to stay right there in my warm, cozy bed.
And this is a rare treat. When you're as high-strung as I am, sleeping in and wasting the day is something to feel guilty about. Must. Be. Productive. Except on Thanksgiving. It's a holiday for a reason!
It's a glorious thing to recover from your hangover entirely from bed in front of a television broadcasting giant floats and marching bands for really, no good reason. Drifting in and out of consciousness while being serenaded with Christmas music by the teen heartthrob du jour? It doesn't get any better.
Well, actually, it could get better. Back in the day, the Thanksgiving Day parade was followed by my favorite cheesy Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." Now, we have a dog show. Not a fan, NBC. Bring back George Bailey!
Tradition No. 3: Feast. Unlike its poser cousins (see Tradition No. 1), Thanksgiving is a holiday centered on food. In my humble opinion, a holiday is not a holiday if there isn't a ton of food involved. Thanksgiving does not disappoint in this regard.
Turkey is the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but turkey isn't even the main event! There's a bajillion sides – potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Pillsbury crescent rolls (a family favorite). And…
Pumpkin pie. 'Nuff said.
Tradition No. 4: Black Friday. Along with holidays that involve copious amounts of eating, shopping is one of my great loves in life.
No, you won't find me camping outside of Best Buy the night before or getting up early to look for some "door-buster" deals. AS previously mentioned, I am far too fond of warmth, sleep, and my bed for such shenanigans.
But there's something deliciously festive about snatching up some cheap DVDs at Target or finding a great deal on sweaters at Banana Republic. Granted, the majority of holiday shopping I do on Black Friday is buying gifts for myself. But hey, I'm just doing my part to help stimulate the economy, right?
Sure, it hurts my wallet, but Thanksgiving weekend is worth it. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with great company, some well-deserved rest, more food than you can eat, and more shopping than any of us should do.
Happy Thanksgiving!
