Thanksgiving represents the Four F’s
Family – Those we love, tolerate, rely on and build traditions with
Friends – Those we choose to have in our lives
Feast – A table spread with the guests favorite traditional foods and desserts
Football – There still is that
It is a shame that the friends and family feast will see less friends and family guests around the holiday table, less to couch cheer and coach and less opinions but we have to look for what we can be thankful for and still have. We can’t have Thanksgiving and the Four F’s but we can still have 3 out of the 4 F’s…household family, a fabulous smaller feast and household members can retreat to the TV to watch their chosen team or movie.
It is my humble opinion that while the guest population is reduced, nothing else should be. If it is your tradition to set the table with your finest linens and china then do so. If your custom is to use paper plates and paper napkins then that is what you should do. Serve your traditional menu but maybe a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. The point is to make your celebration of Thanksgiving feel like Thanksgiving and not just another meal.
If circumstances in your family have changed then maybe beginning some new Thanksgiving traditions is in your future. If you are dealing with a loss then changing traditions is the way to ease the pain of the loss. Keeping things the same after a loss will accentuate the absence. That loss is not gone from your memory and you are not dishonoring by changing it up.
Leave a comment on how you are going to be celebrating this year, I would love to know.
Stay Safe so we can get the numbers down and celebrate the next upcoming holiday season.
Happy Eating
Linda
PS – If you help with a game plan see an earlier blog for a Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan