When we think of Thanksgiving, we often think of sitting down with our families to devour a delicious feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy. However, some students at LTHS and their families are breaking the typical Thanksgiving traditions with what they eat, where they go, and the activities they partake in. 

One example of this comes from LTHS senior Addison Lundstrom, whose family does something quite unique to celebrate the holiday. “We buy confetti poppers that have a crown inside, and all wear the crown as we eat,” said Lundstrom. “We’ve done it for as long as I can remember, so I grew up thinking that was a normal part of Thanksgiving festivities.”

Other students enjoy a variety of what some consider “non-traditional” Thanksgiving menu items. “My grandma makes German food for Thanksgiving,” said Brooke Elander, a senior at LTHS. “She cooks Kasespatzle every year.”

According to food blogger Laura Braun Costello, Käsespätzlef is a recipe of German, Austrian, and Alastian origin. Made of cheese noodles (Käse) shaped like little sparrows (spätzle), it is considered a favorite comfort food, resembling a type of macaroni and cheese. The main difference is in the Käsespätzlef making technique, which requires a special tool called a spätzlebrett (spätzleboard). 

Combining food and games is what LTHS Senior Esme Pierce and her family incorporate into their Thanksgiving traditions. “My family plays the game hot potato every year on Thanksgiving,” said Pierce. “I’m not really sure why we do it or where it came from. The majority of my family is vegan, so we eat lots of potatoes on Thanksgiving and then plan hot potato with the leftovers.” 

Whether it’s eating German food or wearing a crown throughout dinner, these accounts from students and their families are just a few ways new Thanksgiving traditions are being made, which shows how diverse the ways we celebrate the same holiday can be.