The fall season is a time of change - in seasons and routines. However, some of my dearest memories of this time of year are due to the traditions my family has established and carried on throughout my life. While some traditions, like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or Black Friday shopping, are held-to by millions of Americans, other traditions are more intimate and unique to individual families.
I have several unique holiday traditions within my own family. Celebrating Thanksgiving at my Mimi and Papaw’s home has always been special to me, and only recently have I “earned” my seat at the adult’s table. Joined by my cousins, aunt, and uncle, we enjoy a Thanksgiving lunch, followed by afternoon naps and the Egg Bowl. As I have grown older, these memories have become some of the dearests to my heart.
Other students, too, enjoy celebrating the fall season by participating in their own traditions. Catherine Reed, senior, shares her family’s tradition of skipping Halloween, decorating for Christmas, and celebrating Thanksgiving all at once. “My family traditionally starts decorating for Christmas either on my birthday or a few days after, so around October 30th to the beginning of November,” says Reed. “Because we don’t spend Thanksgiving at my house, we go ahead and get it ready for Christmas. On our way home from Thanksgiving, my family always stops by the farmers market to pick out our Christmas tree.”
Freshman Maria Guay and her family traditionally travel over Thanksgiving break. “My favorite childhood memories,” Guay says, “were of Thanksgiving vacations my family took. Nearly every year, we travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and spend a few days there.” Waking up early in the morning to enjoy fresh pancakes made by her father as well as a hike in the park, the Guay family made countless memories which included: side-of-the-road picnics, trips to The Apple Barn, enjoying the beautiful, fall weather and time as a family. They always return by Wednesday night, “just in time for Thanksgiving on Thursday.”
Elesha White, senior, associates the fall season with her favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. White’s family traditionally celebrates by traveling to her grandmother’s house and then hosting relatives on their own, enjoying “the whole spread” of Thanksgiving foods. Her immediate family shares a more intimate tradition: watching fall movies! “When I think of the holidays,” White says, “I think of watching Hallmark movies with my mom and little sister.”
Many other students shared their favorite holiday movies and traditions via Instagram. Some of our students’ favorite movies to watch during the fall include Hocus Pocus (Dannie Woods), The Nightmare Before Christmas (Jordan Chastant), Halloween Town (Madison Self), Harry Potter (Chloe Bell), and “anything on Hallmark” (Amber Black). Traditions our students participate in each year include football (Chele Westbrook), going to the pumpkin patch (Courtney Engel), making pumpkin bread (Catherine Reed), and enjoying a cup of “chocolate coffee” (Hannah Jackson).
There is room for every tradition and celebration this fall - whether it is traveling to another state, hiking, or baking pumpkin bread in your kitchen. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas, Choctaws!
Sincerely, MC
