Thanksgiving is a time for great food, family time and fun.  When you think of Thanksgiving traditions, you may think of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie. But have you ever wondered what other families do? 

“My mom always makes lasagna. We are Italian, so it’s a big thing,” says Aidan Harris (‘27). “It’s in this really big pan. It’s usually enough so we can feed it for like 10 or 12 people.”

Side dishes are a must have on the dinner table.  Some are more traditional. Some, less so.

“Every Thanksgiving, my family likes to make green bean casserole. My mom uses our garden of green beans that she grows in our greenhouse so it’s kind of local and it’s just sort of a family tradition,” says Tam Miller (‘28). 

Strawberry fluff is an easy, no-bake, delicious dessert made by Skyline student Mia Alderman’s family on Thanksgiving.

“Every year, there’s this big bowl of fluff. It’s a staple for family events like Thanksgiving, sometimes it’s even just gifted to us because we love it so much.” says Alderman (‘29).

Student Lola DeBenedet and her family enjoy playing games like bingo on Thanksgiving. But this isn’t your average bingo game: instead of playing with markers, the family plays with Tic Tacs, candy corn, or chocolates. 

“My family’s Thanksgiving bingo tradition has always been a staple on the holiday. After the meal, we pull out a bunch of games, my favorite being bingo! We almost always don’t have regular markers, so we use anything we can get our hands on, Tic Tacs, candy corn, or chocolates. It’s a fun way for everyone to laugh and spend time together.” says DeBenedet (‘29).

Aside from the iconic thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie for dessert, another idea is Strawberry Pretzel Jello. 

“A favorite recipe in our home and for family holiday gatherings is strawberry pretzel jello.” says Mike Lovelace, Skyline math teacher.

Maybe you could give some of these traditions a try! Happy Thanksgiving!