People Share Their Family’s Sweetest Thanksgiving Traditions

Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving tradition to start with your family? These ideas, which range from traditional to out-of-the-box, will give you plenty of inspiration!

Katie Fazio, a mom of four, says that her family kicks off their Thanksgiving holiday in the very best way possible—by mixing up a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade together in their pajamas. Sounds like a classic recipe for success.

Gloria Malone, who has an 11-year-old daughter, encourages her daughter to focus on what she's grateful for and what she has pride in. "I trace her hand every year (that I remember) and have her write five things she's thankful for or things she's proud of that year," Malone explains.

Lauren Hartmann, a blogger and mom of three, puts a twist on the tradition of opening Christmas jammies early. Instead of waiting until Christmas Eve, she and her family open pajamas on Thanksgiving.

"We used to do it on Christmas Eve, but this is more fun, because then they get to wear them during the whole holiday season," Hartmann says. "Once we did, I was like, 'Why did we ever do it on Christmas Eve?'"

Gretchen Bossio, a mom of four, has a helping hand from her own mother, who is a teacher. She brings die-cut paper leaves to their family gatherings, and before the meals they write a few things they are thankful for.

"As we eat, we take turns sharing our 'thankful leaves,'" says Bossio. "It's always a really meaningful conversation … perfect table talk for Thanksgiving!"

Writer Kelly Burch and her family take a unique approach to thankfulness over the holiday season. They listen to an old-time radio show called "The Cinnamon Bear," which Burch explains is meant to be listened to one chapter a day between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Katie Anne and her family take a shopping list from their local food pantry and go shopping for a family in need a week or so before Thanksgiving. Although her kids are still young, Anne hopes that starting the tradition early will help her children realize the importance of giving back.

"I have only done it two years now, and my kids are still little, but hoping it will register at some point," she says.

Katie Anne also adds that she is hoping to start a tradition of doing something active on Thanksgiving, too. (You know, to maybe combat all the pumpkin pie.) "We started doing a family walk last year, and I hope to continue that, too, or just get in the tradition of doing something active in the morning," she says.

Single Dad Laughing shared this genius idea. Promote family bonding and burn off some turkey through belly laughs by declaring the after-dinner entertainment to be old home videos. What's better than that?

Kristel Acevedo, a mom of two from Florida, started the tradition of making a gratitude tree every year with her children.

Writer Melissa Cohen breaks up her family for Thanksgiving: She and her oldest daughter spend the night at her mother's house, where they get up early, eat danishes and prep everything for the big dinner.

"It's this lovely little block of time when we laugh and tell stories and spend time together, just us, before the mad rush of family show up for dinner," says Cohen. Meanwhile, her husband stays home with the younger two kids. They go out for Chinese food the night before Thanksgiving, watch movies that Cohen would never watch and then watch the parade together at home before going to Grandma's house for dinner.

Instagram user @shawnascafe shared an image of her family's Thanksgiving journal, which they write in every year.

"We pulled out the Thanksgiving journal last night and added another year of gratitude during crew dinner," she wrote. "I am reading through the past years this morning and telling the kids the funny things they have said in the past. I'm also admiring words that husbands/parents/wives/friends/sisters don't often make a point to say out loud."

In my family, we have a pretty simple tradition of baking a fun dessert and having a little competition. There are only three rules: It has to be turkey-themed; it has to involve chocolate; and the kids get to judge their favorites.

My mother's favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Getting a head start on the holiday decorating! Every year, bright and early on the day after Thanksgiving, she decks the halls with all of her holiday decorations. As a kid, it was so fun to go right into Christmas mode.