Newsletters
News
Madeline Diamond
Updated
- Thanksgiving is the best.
- From spending time with family and friends to the delicious feasts, there's so much to love about the holiday
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.
Advertisem*nt
The fourth Thursday in November is one of the best days of the year.
Thanksgiving has all the elements of the perfect holiday—you get to eat delicious food, spend time with family and friends, and you don't even have to leave the house (if your family is hosting, that is).
Every family has their own unique traditions, but giving thanks while enjoying classic dishes like roast turkey and pumpkin pie are some of our favorites. No matter how you celebrate,Thanksgiving is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.
There are plenty of reasons to love Thanksgiving, so keep scrolling for our favorites.
Advertisem*nt
The food is amazing.
What could be better than an entire holidaythat revolves around food?From turkey to pumpkin pie, there are so many festive dishes to choose from.
Plus, Thanksgiving dinner usually falls somewhere in the middle of the day, so you don't even have to wait that long for all the amazing food.
There are tons of side dishes, so there's something for everyone.
One of the best parts about food on Thanksgiving is the variety. Sure, turkey is the traditional main event of the evening, butthe wide array of classicThanksgiving side dishes —from stuffing to sweet potato casserole—is what really makes Thanksgiving dinner stand out.
Advertisem*nt
It's the start of the holiday season.
Some people refuse to put up holiday decorations until the beginning of December, but those people are wrong. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start decorating for the holidays with twinkle lights, wreaths, and mistletoe.
Advertisem*nt
Leftovers will keep you full for days.
Thanksgiving dinner is amazing, of course, but leftoversmay be even better. The combination of roast turkey, bread, stuffing, and cranberry sauce makes for an unbeatable day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich.
Advertisem*nt
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a must-see.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a holiday institution since 1924. From balloon versions of your favorite childhood cartoon characters to performances by popular musicians, casts of Broadway shows, and marching bands from all over the country, there's something for everyone.
Advertisem*nt
There's no shortage of football games to watch.
From the three NFL games scheduled on Thanksgiving Day to the variety of NCAA games played over the course of the weekend, sports fans have plenty of options when it comes to this Thanksgiving tradition. This year, the day kicks off with the Bears playing the Lions. In the afternoon the Bills will play the Cowboys, and the Saints will play the Falcons in the evening.
Advertisem*nt
If sports aren't your thing, day-long sitcom and movie marathons are totally ok.
There always seems to be a Thanksgiving marathon of the "Harry Potter" movies, all the Thanksgiving-related episodes of the NBC sitcom "Friends," and pretty much any vintage holiday movieyou can think of on TV.
Curling up on the couch and watching TV all day is blissfully acceptable on Thanksgiving.
Advertisem*nt
You get to be with family.
Whether you see your family all the time or just a few times a year, Thanksgiving is a great time to reunite with loved ones and catch up—over a delicious meal, of course.
Or, you can spend the holiday with your closest friends for a "Friendsgiving" celebration.
Even if you're not close with your biological family, Thanksgiving is still the perfect time to get together with friends and spend the day with your chosen family.
Advertisem*nt
Everyone has their own unique traditions.
Every family has their own unique way of celebrating Thanksgiving.From watching certain movies to playing a competitive game of Scrabble, family traditions makeThanksgiving extraspecial.
You can participate in a Turkey Trot pre-Thanksgiving feast.
Chances are, you'll be eating a lot of food on Thanksgiving Day, so participating in a 5or 10K race is a great way to start your day.
Advertisem*nt
It's perfectly acceptable to take a nap during the day.
Stuffing your face and watching TV can be tiring. What better way to relax than sleeping off the tryptophan (the amino acid in turkey that is said to makeyou sleepy)?
Just like cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, naps are a Thanksgiving tradition. Plus, you've got to rest up for Black Friday, right?
It's not a religious holiday, so everyone can celebrate.
Since Thanksgiving is not affiliated with any religion, it's one of the most inclusive holidays around. Anyone can enjoy Thanksgiving and the traditions that go along with it.
Advertisem*nt
It's not super commercialized.
Sure, Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season, but Thanksgiving itself is a relatively non-commercial holiday. It's really all about food, family, and friends. What could be better?
The decorations are adorable.
From pumpkins to cornucopias, Thanksgivingdecorations celebratethe fall season and make for a uniquely cozy setting.
Advertisem*nt
You don't have to worry about getting people gifts.
Buying gifts for Christmas and Hanukkah can be fun, but it's also stressful. On Thanksgiving, you don't needto worry about finding the perfect holiday giftor spending a ton of money.
You can get away with drinking wine all day.
Since Thanksgiving dinner is usually in the middle of the day, it's generally acceptable to drink all day. Whether you're sipping on a glass of wine while you're cooking or drinkingmulled cider while you eat dessert, Thanksgiving offers plenty of opportunities to imbibe.
Advertisem*nt
It's fun to prepare for Black Friday shopping.
People either love or hate Black Friday —but if you love a good deal, Thanksgiving day is a great time to start making a game plan and building your shopping list for the following day.
Advertisem*nt
It's comforting to be back in your hometown.
From visiting your favorite localdeli to catching up with your childhood friends, it's always fun to pay a visit to your hometown.
Advertisem*nt
There are pies. So many pies.
Everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving pie, whether that be pumpkin, apple, pecan, or even sweet potato. Pretty much all Thanksgiving dishes are delicious, butsaving room for dessert is a must.
Cooking with family is a fun bonding activity.
Preparing Thanksgiving dinner is no joke, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun. Making classic family recipesis even more fun when you're cooking with your actual family members.
Advertisem*nt
You can dress up or be as casual as you want.
Whether you're decked out in seasonal apparel or lounging in sweatpants, Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where you can get away with anything.
It's not usually too cold outside yet.
Even though Thanksgiving is atthe end of November, most regions in the US are still enjoying the last days of fall weather before winter completely sets in. The holiday is the perfect time to take in fall foliage while it lasts.
Advertisem*nt
It's nice to remember what you're thankful for.
It's easy to get caught up in the plentiful food and movie marathons, but Thanksgiving really is all about, as its name suggests, giving thanks.
Whether you go around the dinner table or even just make a mental note, it's always nice to remind yourself, and others, what you're thankful for.
- Read more:
- The 8 best YouTube cooking channels to get ready for Thanksgiving
- We tried 4 brands of canned pumpkin and found the one that makes the best pumpkin pie
- Costco, Lowe's, Sam's Club, and 12 other stores that will be closed on Thanksgiving this year
- Here's why you shouldn't stress too much about holiday weight gain, according to dietitians
Read next
Advertisem*nt
