Well, here we are again people. Thanksgiving and the cusp of the holiday gift-giving, shopping, binge eating season. It’s true what my parents always used to say, time goes by too quickly. Slow down and enjoy life.
So, this week, let’s all take a few minutes and slow down. Enjoy your time with your crazy dysfunctional family. Watch some football or a Hallmark movie or both. When was the last time you watched the Thanksgiving Day parade? Why not watch it again this year? Savor every bite of food. Make the days last as long as possible.
And while you’re slowing down, here are some things to ponder. You all know how I love to share worthless information, so here are some things about Thanksgiving that you may not have known:
The original pilgrims who reached America were called Puritans. 102 of the them set out on the tiny ship but only 50 of them survived to enjoy the first Thanksgiving meal with 90 members of the Wampanoag tribe. Do you remember who the captain of the Mayflower was? It’s okay if you don’t because I’m going to tell you. His name was Christopher Jones. And the name of the Wampanoag Chief? Massasoit.
This happy little party did not enjoy turkey at that meal. Say what? I know. Weird. They dined on venison. But, speaking of turkeys, do you know what US State produces the most turkeys each year? Go ahead and wager your guess, I’ll wait. If you said Minnesota, you are correct. It is estimated that 280 million turkeys are consumed every year at Thanksgiving. And 50 million pumpkin pies. It is also estimated that only 88% of the population partakes of a traditional Thanksgiving meal annually which means those numbers would be even higher if everyone celebrated with a grand meal.
And speaking of the aforementioned Thanksgiving Day Parade, do you know what year that parade got started? Guess fast because I’m about to tell you. 1924. Wow! That’s a long time for this tradition. Did you also know that every single Thanksgiving Day parade everywhere MUST end with the arrival of Santa Claus? That’s right. Like eating turkey and pumpkin pie, the arrival of Santa at the end of the parade is tradition.
And, here’s one more interesting fact: Thanksgiving Day is the busiest travel day of the year. So, that said, be safe out there my friends. Slow down. Enjoy the ride, or flight, or walk. Don’t be in such a hurry. Your family will wait for you. They always do.
What Thanksgiving Day traditions do you look forward to every year? Do you eat turkey and pumpkin pie? Do you watch the parade? I’m looking for some fun traditions people. Let me hear them.
Word of the Day: Nephelinitic
Fun fact about me: While Thanksgiving is my husband’s absolute favorite meal, I’m not real crazy about the traditional fare.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, November 2019. Images by Google Images and Pexels.
Stay connected with news about my books and other fun stuff by signing up for my newsletter: http://bit.ly/JansenSchmidtNewsletter
My newest release On Hallowed Ground is available at fine retailers everywhere: http://bit.ly/2KONmnf
On Common Ground is available at fine retailers everywhere: http://bit.ly/2BBu7bb
jansenschmidt 
Not sure how I’ve made it nearly 77 years without knowing what Nephelinitic meant. Guess I’ll have to continue plodding along without that knowledge, since my brain doesn’t retain such important facts very long. *laughs*
I’ll go with the Hallmark movie, but you can keep the parades and football games. You can have my share of turkey, too. I’ve been completely burned out on it for years now. We’ll have chicken spaghetti Thursday, along with some kind of pie, but I don’t know what kind.
Happy Thanksgiving, Patricia.
LikeLike
So your tradition is to be completely non-traditional. I love it! Chicken spaghetti it is. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Hallmark movie and your family if you’re all together.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Patricia
LikeLike
Thanksgiving has been at my house for…well, quite a long time. It’s a lot of work, but there’s something gratifying about having it all on the table and your family and friends eating together. And yet, I’m always relieved when the house is quiet again and I can collapse on the couch with a glass of wine and congratulate myself on getting through another Turkey Day. With pie. I hope you have a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving!
LikeLike
Thanks my friend. We usually have a really big meal, even though it’s just the two of us. I do all the shopping and prep and cooking, except for the turkey, which my hubby puts on the BBQ and lets it smoke for 2-3 hours. It’s really delicious! I spread the work out over 2 or 3 days. I’ll start tomorrow with my cranberry sauce (it gets better when it sits for a day or so), then I’ll make the dressing and put that in the fridge. The next day I’ll make my sweet potato souffle and put it in the fridge. Then I’ll make my pie. Really on Thursday all I’ll have to do is put stuff in the oven and make some gravy. Sometimes I don’t even do the gravy because I’m the only one who eats it on my turkey and dressing.
Then my hubby will head off to work and I’ll have the evening to relax and enjoy my wine. Sometimes that’s the best part of the day.
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy your family.
Patricia
LikeLike
Count me in for the traditional dinner! Boring? Maybe, but we love it! Usually my husband deep fries the turkey, and it’s so much better than the standard baked one. This year, our daughter’s cooking (though at our house) so it will be amazing, I have no doubt. Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful, whatever the fare!
LikeLike
Someone else is cooking? That’s even better!! I’ve never had a deep-fried turkey, but one of these days I’m going to give that a try. We usually put ours on the BBQ and let is smoke for 2-3 hours. It’s really good that way too.
We always cook a big meal even though it’s just the 2 of us. We like having the left-overs.
Enjoy your holiday and your family. Be safe. Happy Thanksgiving!
Patricia
LikeLike
I’m with the hubby on this one. I would eat turkey every day of the year with no complaints. Good info on the history! Have a wonderful day, Patricia!
LikeLike
I’m okay with the turkey, Al, it’s the other stuff I really don’t like. I like cranberries, but not plain ole sauce. I make a really yummy cranberry sauce with mint, but I still only like it with cream cheese or inside a puff pastry or something like that. Just not plain. Oh well, to each his own right?
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!! Good to see you so early this morning.
Patricia
LikeLike