besides the feast what is another tradition that happens during thanksgiving?

Another big Thanksgiving tradition (besides the feast) is gathering to share what you’re grateful for , often by going around the table and having each person say something they appreciate from the past year.

Quick Scoop

Many families have at least one non-food tradition they repeat every year. Here are some of the most common ones you’ll see in the U.S. around Thanksgiving.

Gratitude traditions

• Going around the table and saying what you’re thankful for before eating.

• Making a “thankful tree” or journal where everyone writes what they’re grateful for.

• Signing a “thankful” or gratitude tablecloth with dates and notes each year.

Community & giving back

• Volunteering at soup kitchens or community centers to serve meals.

• Collecting canned goods or running local food drives for shelters and pantries.

• Writing thank-you notes or care packages for people in need or service members.

Games, sports, and activities

• Watching or playing football, a Thanksgiving tradition since the 1800s.

• Joining a local “turkey trot” 5K run or walk in the morning.

• Playing party games like charades or board games while the food cooks.

Media & “cozy” rituals

• Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV.

• Putting on a special Thanksgiving or fall-themed movie marathon.

• Making a seasonal music playlist to have on in the background all day.

In a lot of families, one of these small rituals (like saying what you’re thankful for or watching the same parade every year) ends up feeling just as important as the feast itself.

TL;DR: Besides the feast, another super common Thanksgiving tradition is going around the table to share what you’re thankful for, often paired with things like watching the parade, football, volunteering, or gratitude activities.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.