Thanksgiving can be an incredibly fun holiday, especially if you have friends or family over to celebrate it with you! If you’re planning to host a Thanksgiving party this year, here are some helpful tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the holiday and have it go off without a hitch. Be sure to start planning early so that you don’t forget anything or get last-minute stress!
1. Thanksgiving Invitations
The most important part of Thanksgiving is figuring out who to invite. If you’re not inviting only family, then your Thanksgiving party invitations should be hand-written and mailed out at least two weeks before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving always falls on the third Thursday of November. People typically start making plans in October, sometimes earlier. So, the sooner you send out invitations, the better. The rule of thumb when sending out invitations is family first, then everyone else. During your invitations, this is also a good time to ask your attendees about any allergies or special requests they may have. You wouldn’t want to leave anybody out!
2. Most Popular Thanksgiving Menu
Accommodating a group of people for Thanksgiving means serving the most popular foods amongst everyone. You can’t go wrong with traditional favorites such as turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. However, you might also want to consider adding a few other dishes that can take care of vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions. For example, pumpkin pie is a must-have for many holiday tables and it’s gluten-free. As for Thanksgiving side dishes, try making sweet potato casserole or green beans for the vegetarians in your life. Corn and glazed carrots is also popular. But if you’re looking for a simple list for the best Thanksgiving foods, we’ve got you covered:
- Honey-glazed Smoked Ham
- Creamed Spinach
- Brussel Sprouts
- Green Bean Casserole
- Cranberry Sauce (or sliced)
- Hot Butter Buns
- Apple Pie
The only thing left to do is set out some festive decorations and pick out an outfit that’s perfect for hosting Thanksgiving!
3. Thanksgiving Décor
Decorating your house for Thanksgiving is almost as important as the food. There are a few simple things you can do that will make your home warm, welcoming, and festive for this special time. Turkey day is the perfect opportunity to break out those fall decorations or add some touches of red, green and gold. Although, depending on the family, some start decorating for fall the day after Halloween! Thanksgiving table decor like candles, pumpkins or flowers can be used as centerpieces or in other areas of your house. You could also use oranges, apples, pears, grapes, figs and persimmons. They can be placed on tables or hung from the ceiling. If you want an even more naturalistic look, use wreaths made of vine cuttings instead – arrange a table full of beautiful pottery plates, silverware and matching napkins. The idea is to give your home that warm feeling and to embrace the spirit.
4. Thanksgiving Games
Having fun games could be a great way to get into the Thanksgiving spirit, especially if kids are attending. There are many games to choose from, but some of the more popular ones are Sack Racing, Feather Toss, and Wheelbarrow Race. To play Sack Racing, all you need is a big piece of cloth or a blanket (or long pillow case) and each person steps inside one and you hop along and race against each other! For Feather Toss, you’ll need a feather for each team. You make a start and finish line, and someone yells GO! and you toss the feather towards the finish line. Wherever it lands, you pick it up and toss it again until it crosses the line. Then run the feather back to your team, and they do the same thing until one team wins! The game wheelbarrow race is another favorite at thanksgiving parties because it combines silliness with competition – who doesn’t love silliness? One person places their hands on the ground and acts as a wheelbarrow, while the other person acts as the driver. Then race for the finish line to victory!
5. Cherishing Thanksgiving Memories
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is not just about food, it’s about making memories that last a lifetime. And, as a host, you can have a lot of fun making memories with your family and friends. Planning ahead for Thanksgiving dinner might seem like a lot of work, but it’s not that bad. In fact, it’s worth it because hosting Thanksgiving is an incredible, rewarding experience. Thanksgiving is a time where we gather and share what we are thankful for. We cherish these memories, because it’s one of the few times of year when friends, family, and extended relatives join together. Giving thanks to life and for all of those who have supported us throughout the year means so much more when you do it with loved ones around you.
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