Thanksgiving is a time for families to celebrate their togetherness.  This can provide us with a sense of family identity and meaningfulness that can last for generations to come.  If you are looking to start some new traditions with your family, here are some ideas to help get you started:

• Take some time with your family to reminisce about your childhood celebrations.  Maybe you would even enjoy doing some of the same things that you did in childhood today.  There are probably some things that you did in your childhood that you would not like to do as well.
• Create a mini scrapbook album together.  Some of the categories that you may like to include are “five things I love about my family,” “five things I'm thankful for” or “five wishes for my family.”  Allow everyone to fill in the pages, then take some time to look at it during dinner.
• Create a family gratitude journal throughout the year.  Allow each family member to share something that they are grateful for each night, then on Thanksgiving Day, take some time to share the highlights from throughout the year.
• Make a gratitude circle before Thanksgiving Dinner.  Here everyone holds hands and each person takes a moment to share what they are thankful for.
• Use a special tablecloth for your family's Thanksgiving celebrations.  You can even use fabric markers so that each person can write what they are thankful for.  Of course, you will want to have the person sign whatever they read.
• Involve your entire family whenever it comes to decorating for Thanksgiving.
• Create a gift for the person who is hosting your family's Thanksgiving dinner this year.  This could be either an apron, a t-shirt or a gift album to give them after dinner.
• Show your gratitude to someone in your community by making them a card and either taking or sending it with a plate of goodies to them.  These unsung heroes could include firefighters, soldiers, police officers and other volunteers. 
• Take a moment to preserve your family's traditions.  Make notes of everyone's favorite activities and take lots of pictures throughout the day.  It is especially fun to use a disposable calendar so that everyone, from child to adult, can help take the pictures.

Even if you only incorporate a few of these ideas into your Thanksgiving celebration, you are still helping to create memories for many years to come.

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