Thanksgiving Traditions
Turkey, stuffing and pie are expected on Thanksgiving, but some families celebrate with traditions all their own.For these Butler County residents, the following traditions are as much a part of the holiday as Thanksgiving dinner itself.
Around the tableBUTLER TWP — As her family grew, Connie Sacco wanted to establish a holiday tradition for her eight grandchildren.“For Thanksgiving, everyone gets together and they eat,” she said, explaining her idea to create a Thanksgiving tablecloth. “I told everybody they could write what they're thankful for that year, with what's going on in their life.”Sacco purchased permanent fabric markers and a plain white tablecloth large enough to cover her dining room table with its leaf in place.“When you pull this tablecloth out every year, it's like a reminder,” she said.The tablecloth is now decorated with phrases and doodles, including a new house, a family and a couple getting married.Sacco celebrates Thanksgiving with her four children. Sacco's oldest grandchild is 11 and the three youngest are all one year old.The adults and older children include their names and the year, while the younger children make handprints with some help.“We're creating our own traditions,” said Sacco, who wants to impart a certain lesson to her grandchildren. “No matter what, we are family and we're grateful for all these things.”
PROSPECT — Each year, Doug Kennedy delays Thanksgiving dinner with his mother, Lucinda, but she doesn't mind the wait.Kennedy volunteers as a car attendant at the Garden Gate Restaurant, helping patrons out of their vehicles and into the building.“That's why we're put on Earth, to help others,” said Lucinda Kennedy, who lives in Harrisville.Kennedy and another man volunteer as car attendants on Mother's Day and Thanksgiving Day.When the crowd thins at the end of the evening, the mother and son sit down with friends at a reserved table for their Thanksgiving meal.The group often remembers past Thanksgivings and reminisces about family members no longer with them.Kennedy said she sees in her son the same generosity her late father, John C. Kennedy, was known for.For example, neighbors with car trouble sometimes stopped at the family's farm in Cabot, knowing her father was a good mechanic, she said.“He'd just come home from church and get under their car with his white shirt on and fix it for them, for no pay,” she said. “That's the way my son is, he doesn't even have to know someone but if he sees they're in a bind, he extends his help.”There's no better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than helping others, Kennedy said.A personal care nurse, Kennedy even invited a patient of hers to dine with them this year.“It means love and togetherness,” she said of their tradition.
PENN TWP — Most people wake up on Thanksgiving thinking about turkey, but Beth Thomasmeyer and her family are thinking about waffles, eggs and yogurt.Between 80 and 100 guests show up each year for the Thanksgiving morning brunch hosted by Thomasmeyer, her husband, Craig, and their children Suzanne, 21, Seth, 19, Landon, 17, Austin, 14, and Brent, 11.The family wanted to do something special to celebrate the holiday with the people they are thankful for, Thomasmeyer said.For many guests, the brunch is the calm before the storm of preparing dinner, she said.“I think that's why so many come back,” she said. “They know they can relax and get everyone fed and go home for their Thanksgiving meals.”The brunch has been held for seven or eight years and the menu includes English muffin and egg breakfast sandwiches, homemade waffles and fruit and yogurt parfaits.On the counter are special fountains for serving orange juice and chocolate fondue.“I have everything written down, exactly what I need, and we all have our different chores,” said Thomasmeyer, who usually completes the shopping with her husband in one marathon trip.The night before, the family prepares by assembling the egg sandwiches and mixing the waffle batter. In the morning, Thomasmeyer's youngest son puts together the parfaits.The meal is laid out in the kitchen for guests, including homemade place mats made with photos from past brunches.Outside, there are impromptu football games and a bonfire to gather around.“I really look forward to it,” said Landon Thomasmeyer. “I look forward to having everyone together on the holiday, on their day off.”In the afternoon, the guests depart and the Thomasmeyers enjoy a low-key evening meal.“Every one of us loves the day,” Thomasmeyer added. “It's a great Thanksgiving.”
BUTLER TWP —The holiday spirit arrives early at the Selfridge home, where Christmas music plays all day on Thanksgiving.Ken and Sandy Selfridge start cooking first thing in the morning.Their eldest son, Chris, and his daughter, Heather, of Butler arrive early in the day, followed by their younger son, Elliot, and his wife, Kalena, of Harmony, who always bring their dog, Dexter, to play with the Selfridge's dogs, Harley and Pookie.As soon as the dinner dishes are cleared, the entire group heads outside to turn on the Christmas lights draped on the house.“We always light up on Thanksgiving,” Ken Selfridge said. “We did that at home when I was a young guy, and I kept doing it at my house.”Then, they go back inside to spread newspaper advertisements across the dining room table and gather around with paper and pens to make their holiday wish lists.“Everyone has a list, mom and dad have a list, the kids have a list,” Selfridge said, explaining the family does most of its holiday shopping the day after Thanksgiving.After the lists are passed around, they unwind with hot drinks and pie before calling it a night.”We'll play some games or rent a movie, the kids will bring the Wii or something down,” Selfridge said. “We just do something together as a family.”Everyone spends the night under one roof and rises as early as 3 a.m. to go Christmas shopping together.“We're all big into the Black Friday thing,” he said. “That's just something we've always done.”The Selfridges always look forward to getting a jump start on the Christmas season.“That's when we're all together,” Selfridge said. “We just have a good time.”
HARMONY — In November, giving thanks is part of the daily routine for Jeanie and Brian Sinz and their 13-year-old son, Randy.For the past four years, the Sinzes have written down what they're thankful for and hung the statements on a tree.Inspired by a craft magazine that suggested writing blessings on hand-cut paper leaves, Jeanie Sinz took the project one step further by affixing the leaves to a 2½ foot metal tree.“This is the time of year to be thankful,” she said. “It kind of keeps it in your heart, talking about it out loud.”At the beginning of the month, Sinz gets the “Thankful Tree” out of storage and the family starts counting their blessings.“Every other day, we'll take out a piece of paper and write something down,” she said. “Usually, by Thanksgiving we're pretty full.”The family writes down new blessings each year, but many themes remain the same, Sinz said.“It reminds you of what's important in life because the same ‘leaves' keep popping up every year,” she said. “Basically, it comes down to family, friends and faith.”The Thankful Tree made an impression on Randy and became a holiday ritual.“It's part of Thanksgiving,” said Randy. “It's part of my heart.”Randy filled several leaves with blessings like family cats Kit Kat and Snicks and the youth group at Grace Community Church in Cranberry Township, where he plays electric acoustic violin in the praise band.“It's a little hard sometimes, but most of the time, it comes to me pretty easily,” Randy said. “We have something new that we're thankful for pretty much every year.”The tradition has become special to the family because it is truly their own, Sinz said.“It's our tradition, it's nothing that's been handed down,” she said. “It's something that just my family and I share.”
