What Are Your Thanksgiving Traditions?

Thanksgiving traditions vary by region and by family.

I grew up spending my Thanksgiving with family in one part of the Philadelphia area or another: Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Haverford, Havertown, Wayne, Paoli or Media.

To my family, Thanksgiving was about being together. The Thanksgiving gatherings started out a little bit like a cocktail party, but it was about connecting and catching up with family members who we didn’t see frequently.

My family didn’t turn on the TV and watch the football game. That just wasn’t part of our tradition.

Now, I’m married and frequently spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws, where the TV is frequently on and they call stuffing “dressing.” The food on the table is a lot more starch-based than I’m used to, but those are their traditions.

So what are your traditions?

• Is your family into watching football over Thanksgiving?
• Are you a trend-setting family that’s tried frying your turkey and is now trying turducken?
• Do you have certain dishes that are staples of your Thanksgiving meal?