Whether it’s the delicious food, quality time with family, unique traditions, or the fact that there’s no school, Thanksgiving is a holiday that holds special meaning for many people. This year, Thanksgiving landed on Thursday, November 28, making it the perfect midway point between Halloween and the Holiday season. This holiday is a wonderful time to reflect on what we are grateful for, reconnect with our loved ones, and enjoy the mouthwatering feast.
There is a wide variety of traditions that are important to each Hackley student’s Thanksgiving. From spending time with cousins, grandparents, and friends, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and watching Wicked in theaters, to Black Friday shopping, sleeping in, and eating amazing food, each activity holds a special place in the lives of Hackley students.
Food Highlights
What’s the first meal that comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Is it the star of the holiday, turkey? Is it sweet potatoes, stuffing, or a slice of apple pie? After 66 Upper School students responded to a survey conducted by the Dial, it was clear which Thanksgiving dishes were must-haves on the plates of Hackley students.
In a surprising twist, the meal that stole the stomachs of many wasn’t turkey or pie, but mac and cheese which received 24.2% of the vote. Coming in second with 19.7% was stuffing and closely behind, mashed potatoes with 16.7%.
Many students shared some of their personal food highlights. For example, freshman Carlie Koch expressed her love for mashed potatoes, which she enjoys at a different relative’s house each year. Sophomore Brigid Doherty said that sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, made by her aunt, was the only food she would eat when she was younger. Freshman Emelia Pieri’s must-have was gravy as she says, “it goes on everything.”
Family & Special Moments
Surrounding the Thanksgiving dinner table where all the food is displayed are the people and traditions you love.
Junior Lily Adamski said, “My mom always makes Thanksgiving special because she always spends a lot of time preparing the food and making the turkey and just puts in a lot of effort.”
Lily’s family also has a special tradition where her mom creates a scavenger hunt for her and her siblings to engage in while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Freshman Sarah Sichel-Outcalt shared that she couldn’t do Thanksgiving without her family. “I go to my grandma’s house, and she either makes dinner or they’ll go to my house and we make dinner. We watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving– it’s a tradition. We go to Rockefeller State Park… and right before we start cooking —nine or ten in the morning — we go for a walk around the lake,” she said. This is a great way for her family to relax before the stress of cooking.
Sophomore Ace Perez said, “I don’t think I could do Thanksgiving without my cousins. I have some cousins who live nearby and we always do Thanksgiving together, and a lot of years my cousins from Florida come up as well.” Their time together is filled with everything from video games to backyard soccer or football, and card games.
Family is also key for sophomore Ella Ferrari. “All my cousins are in college now, so I don’t really get to see them often,” said Ella. She spends a lot of time catching up with them and talking during this holiday.
