Sarah's additions of leaves, twigs, and seed pods made this look quite festive.
Traditions are part of what makes a family a family. Having things you 'always do' gives a sense of covenantal context, in the greater view of the family of God, your forefathers, your immediate family, and the generations to come.
We have several Thanksgiving traditions which we've done for many years: reading pilgrim stories aloud several weeks leading up to Thanksgiving day, making particular dishes, and placing 5 kernels of corn on each of the children's plates. Other traditions are newer to the Serven Clan: creating a Thanksgiving play or movie for the family, going on a walk right after dinner, and singing hymns and psalms in the evening.
Our normal hutch-top decorations supplemented with fall things.
This year, Sarah and I were realizing that we usually don't put up Thanksgiving decorations around our home, except for a few items a couple days previous to Thanksgiving. This year, especially as we were home to witness the glorious color change, we decided to extend our Thanksgiving decorations and place them around our home earlier in the season.
Sarah went out into the woods and scrounged up some fallish things: leaves, acorns, twigs, berries, and seed-pods. We already had some winter squashes and pumpkins that Mom had picked up, so we incorporated them all into our normal decorations. We thought the effect charming. : )
Finding some orange candles made this more "Thanksgivingish".
If you don't live near a convenient woods, you can also find inexpensive fall decorations. Go to a nearby park or a friends yard, and look for leaves, twigs, or acorns. You can purchase several candles from Wally-world for a dollar or two. Scrounge your pantry for pretty squashes to wash and place out for decoration. A farmer's market will have gourds, dried colored corn, and pumpkins that will last for many years.
You can find a yard of fabric at the aforementioned store for $1-$2, and either hem or fray the edges to make a festive center for your table. Use old canning jars for vases or as a container for a small candle to shine through. A little raffia goes a long way in making things look fallish.
Lighting the way home.
One special night we placed candles in glass jars lining the walk way. We tied a bit of twine around the top of each jar, just for fun. A string of white lights around the door frame makes the entrance more celebratory. I made the wreath for only a few dollars from Michael's: grapevine wreath, raffia, and berry 'picks'. I didn't glue it on purpose, so we can change it with each season.
We are on the lookout for new Thanksgiving Traditions. What are some of your family's? Certain dishes you cook, things you do, books you read, places you go, and more. Please share in the comments!
9 comments:
Oh how fun!! I love the jar/candles on the walkway very pretty! Blessings to you all!
~Anna for ALL THE VON HOLTENS~
Thanks for letting us peek into your special family times. I am reminded of the indian corn that we put out every year as children. Mom kept it in her trunk. Each year when it came out, Mom would ask, "Where should we put it this year?" From that point on it was "all anticipation" until the arrival of Thanksgiving Day.
God Bless,
Kelly
In late Oct./early Nov., my husband and I and one daughter's family traveled by RV to visit another daughter and family who have moved this year from sunny, warm Florida to northern Arkansas. What a perfect time we chose! The leaves were at their peak color, and fall was in the air! I had not seen such glorious colors in years and years! What a feast for the eyes and wonderful reminder of our faithful Creator!
(And the Lord blessed our search with a wonderful potential piece of property in southern Missouri! We are waiting for the details to be ironed out right now.)
Some of the granddaughters gathered unusual leaves and pods to bring home, so I am sure they will deck out the homes for Thanksgiving celebration. We have a collection of, as you mentioned, fall fabrics from various fabric stores, and they come out this time every year as tablecloths and runners.
We are blessed with much grapevine along our fields, and the grandchildren and I love to gather them and make wreaths, leaving a few leaves on them to dry. When the fabric stores have their after-holiday sales on wired themed ribbon, we stock up on them, and adding a large bow to a grapevine wreath is all the decoration it needs.
Of course, there are our pilgrim families (cast resin) for the mantle and dining table, and the fall salt and pepper shakers we have collected over the years. Can you tell we love fall down here where it was in the 80's this week? (But should be getting cooler soon!)
The very favorite of our Thanksgiving hymns is "Come, Ye Thankful People" -- every year, it is my prayer for our family that, "Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be."
May the Lord give you all a blessed Thanksgiving season.
Mrs. Frodge
in Florida
Your family's Thanksgiving traditions sound a lot like ours! We read a book called "Stories of the Pilgrims" by Margaret B. Pumphrey in the days preceeding Thanksgiving. Would that happen to be the book you read?
We always have special dishes, which include: pumkin pie (my favorite!), peach (or pear) cobler, sweet potato surprise and mashed potatoes with gravy.
Your decorations are beautiful. Some really good ideas! Very unique.
Blessings,
Phoebe Kautt
Still being unmarried, not living with my own siblings, but either alone or at times with another family, I haven't really developed any "traditions" of my own, other than to make sure I am with SOME family for this significant day. But, having shared Thanksgiving Day with so many different families, I've had opportunity to share in the traditions of many other families, I've seen most of the ones you describe, in one form or anohter, but the one "lighing the path home" is a new one for me. It is very reminiscent of the "lamps" used by the Latin peoples at Christmas season, which name presently escapes me, but are very beautiful. I like the glass jar much better, as the light from the candles is far brighter than the traditional latin version. One thing I've always found very interesting is the wide variety of food "standards" I've seen. Seems each family have their own special dishes. My own Mom came across a recipe for a crushed fresh cranberry relish that I will always remember. And I've never yet come across anyone else's that is quite the same, though a few have been somewhat similar. One year, when invited to share with a family (Mom was able to join us as well, they living near where she was at the time) for Thanksgiving, I was asked to bring a second turkey. On being assured I could cook it "any way I liked", and knowing this family have long-standing and strong ties to hispanic culture, I did up a turkey in the southern Mexican mole poblano style.... cut into pieces, simmered, and then cooked in a rich sauce of mild red chiles, spices, and dark chocloate, Pueblo style. Little did I know a young man from that part of Mexico would be joining us, and he was QUITE surprised to find a gringo bring this very unusual and authentic dish to a Yankee Thanksgiving!! I had hoped there would be at least a little in way of leftovers but there was not a scrap left in the pot!!
Nearly every year, whoever I find myself joining, though, it seems a rather brick walk after the main feast is de rigeur. Seems a convenient way of settling one's stomach in preparation for the next round of assault.... on the desserts. Oh, yes, there is one tradition I have established as uniquely my own: I NEVER go out shopping the day following. Perhaps to a park, beach, out on the boat, a bike ride, a specific project, but NEVER to the mall.....
Your traditions sound very nice! Our Thanksgiving was last month, but we don't normally do much. This year we did a little decorating and had a meal with some family.
Y'all's traditions sound very fun!!! I like decorating, but I don't have good enough skill at it yet.:(
Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving! ;)
Johanna Kautt
P.S. I really agree with what Anna Joy said--- the candle light is pretty. :)
We don't have very many traditions - just do different things each year. My dad likes to make pilgrim dishes such as Prune Tart and Boiled Onions from the Thanksgiving Primer- we really like the Prune Tart- I will eat it for breakfast the rest of the week :).
One year we told stories and watched a movie about the pilgrims. A couple years ago we had just trimmed our large pine trees so we took the branches and made a wigwam, then we dug some holes and buried various containers- one had the Idian corn in it and the children were supposed to dig them up and find the one with the corn like the pilgrim men did. That was really fun and the wigwam lasted all the way to Christmas I think! We had a blast hiding in it, playing house, and the boys using it for soft-air gun wars. :)
Last year we just played some games, went on a walk (that seems to be a popular thing to do :) ) and then came back and sang hymns. We have several pianist here so somebody usually plays for us and sometimes we have someone organize a special song.
We Have a few fall decorations but usually don't get them up until the day before thanksgiving - then they stay up until Christmas decorating time. :)
Oh, one last thing is that some of us girls like to dress up like pilgrims. We haven't made real authentic looking costumes but we have a wool dress and skirt and a couple ruffled collard shirts that we wear with them and it looks pretty good!
I agree with the other ladies - the candles in the jars are very lovely and give it a warm feeling/look. Very Cheering!
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!
Mell in CA
I am musically illiterate and I am so thankful that we go to a church where music instuction and choir involvement are stressed. Bravo to you who do have musical education and willingly pass on that knowledge to the next generation!
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