This year, make it a point to express gratitude as a family by integrating thoughtful traditions into your holiday celebrations. Whether you are reviving old traditions or creating new ones, these three ideas centered on giving thanks will help ensure you’re celebrating the true spirit of the season.

thankful-tree-craft

Tree of thanks
A centerpiece for the dining room table is a great way to encourage guests to reflect on the things for which they are most grateful. Create a statement piece by gathering decorative branches and arranging them into a jar. Next, cut fun shapes out of colorful construction paper, and loop a piece of string through the top of each. Have each of your guests write down what they’re thankful for before hanging the papers onto the branches.

jar-of-thanks-craft

Joyful notes
Throughout the month of November, encourage loved ones to jot down notes about all the things for which they are grateful, and place the folded papers into a jar on the counter. On Thanksgiving Day, pass the jar around, and have everyone read the joyful notes aloud. When filled, the jar not only makes a great decoration, but also acts as a visual reminder of all the reasons to be thankful.

thankful-notes-book

Through the years
A journal is a great way to keep track of what you are thankful for over the years. Whether you dedicate a page for each guest or one section for the year, have each person at Thanksgiving dinner write down what they are most thankful for that year. Not only will you have an heirloom piece to pass down through the generations, but it will provide entertainment when you read back on past years and see what has changed in the lives of each family member.

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