For my friend Kim and her family, Thanksgiving has long been a cherished occasion. Although we never celebrate it in my neck of the woods, hearing about what all these Thanksgiving traditions for seniors are like from her, gives me real understanding for what they mean to people and certainly grandparents who are the driving force of their family bonding during holidays.
Kim’s family Thanksgiving is more than just about eating and drinking; it is a custom, stories of good old days and another bond with the family. Even when times were tough and getting together was difficult, they always made an effort to stay connected, keeping alive thanksgiving traditions for seniors.
Get a glimpse of the traditions from Thanksgiving that Kim’s family has continued over the years as they keep in touch and make Thanksgiving feel special for both seniors and juniors.
Thanksgiving Tradition for Seniors: Story telling
Kim really loves how Thanksgiving centres around storytelling with family. She loves when her grandparents retell old childhood holiday memories, stories of their younger selves, and family folklore. For the younger folk in the family, these stories are invaluable nuggets for a glance into a past the younger one may never have experienced. Read our article on how to Strengthen Bonds and Reclaim Family Narratives.
Kim and everyone in her family always linger around the living room after dinner to listen to grandma & grandpa. For example, they might be asked about their first Thanksgiving, or perhaps share a hilarious holiday mishap. One year, my grandpa repeated the story about Thanksgiving when they dropped the turkey and had to make do with all side dishes. Kim continued: “We were all cracking up, and “We still joke about it over every Thanksgiving or during the holidays.
- Memory book: Kim’s family began making a memory book a few years ago. Year after year around Thanksgiving, they pack it full of memories and photos and whatnot. It has turned out to be a means of capturing the highlights of Thanksgiving, Kim said. When we could not meet in person and share our stories, like during COVID, everyone sent their stories that ended up in the book. It preserves those memories and my grandparents love flipping through it.
Cook Companions – A Heritage of Family Recipes
Another Thanksgiving essential that her family holds dear is cooking together. After all, her grandparents are veterans in the kitchen and known for their famous dishes, a means to keep family flavours and traditions alive when the next generation takes over their own kitchens. See our guide on Nutrition to Boost Energy and Health for seasonal foods you can eat during autumn .
- Grandma Knows Best: Each year Kim’s grandma encourages the grandchildren join her in the kitchen to help make her famous stuffing. “It is her signature dish and she walks us through every minute detail,” said Kim. It is not just preparing a dish but passing down her culture to her grandkids. “It makes her want to ensure we learn how it is meant to be done, the correct way and we chuckle because none of us can do it like her anyway”, Kim said.
- All in the Family Cookbook: Each Thanksgiving, her family keeps a running tab of what they each made (as well as some thoughts on the cooks!). Kim divulged: “So one Thanksgiving we tried to make her stuffing without her and it was a huge disaster,” Our recipe book is now a treasure trove of the love and laughter we brewed in our kitchen.
Circle Of Thankfulness – Incorporating Family Bonding During Holidays
Kim explained, “Before we eat Thanksgiving dinner, my family sits around the table and says one thing they are thankful for. To start a Thanksgiving activity for older adults, we created an easy yet powerful gratitude circle in our family. It allows everyone an opportunity to give thanks and acknowledge those who surround you.
- How They Say Thanks: Kim’s grandpa always starts out with a sentence or two regarding the health of his family — “It is such a sweet moment and truly sets the tone for the day. Even the children get in on the act: thanking Grandma for cookies or their favourite toys. Having everyone say what they are thankful for really makes Thanksgiving fun!
- Starting a Thankfulness Journal: Last Thanksgiving they began writing in something they call their thankfulness journal; as a family, documenting what each person is thankful for that week. Her grandparents especially enjoyed this because it allowed them to reflect on what everyone had said all year. Kim said her grandma has the journal on her nightstand. It is something we will be adding every Thanksgiving from now until forever, documenting our family over the years.
Thanksgiving For Seniors – Playtime for all ages
Every evening after dinner, Kim’s family would do what they call “family fun time,” and a few games or activities everyone can play together. These Thanksgiving activities for retirees and younger family members create human interactions, helping them break the ice, eliminating age-gap and bringing everyone under one umbrella of a sense of belonging.
- Thanksgiving Bingo and Trivia: Her grandparents like to do a Thanksgiving trivia game with comically-off the-wall questions such as “How many turkeys are cooked in the U.S. each Year? Everyone gives their guesses, which Kim says is usually way off at the start, but a hilarious night nevertheless. Well Grandpa, Kim chuckled, loves the fact that he gets to be the Trivia Master. You know he finally has his moment and we are all like, rolling on the floor laughing.
- The Grandkids Love Creating – This is one more tradition they enjoy, creating together. Kim’s grandmother sets out the grandkids for simple Thanksgiving crafts- like a “Thankful Tree,” in which each person writes something they are thankful for on a paper leaf. “It’s a nice way for my grandparents to spend time with the kids.” Every leaf on this tree is a representation of something you are thankful for, it is an ornament that you may leave hanging up for the whole season.
Family Service Day: Acts of Kindness
Giving back is one of the holiday values instilled by Kim’s grandparents in their family’s life. Her family has made small efforts for random acts of kindness to help others and spread their thankfulness beyond themselves, a practice senior citizens know (and which they think is one of the most important Thanksgiving traditions anyway). These little things build great family fellowship episodes during festive time and also help strengthen the relationship between generations in many fold.
- Family volunteering: Like so many, Kim and her family gathers sometimes near Thanksgiving to give their time. The location will be at a nearby centre for maybe 2 – 4 hours to help serve meals, dishes or clear donations. Grandpa always said “Thanksgiving has always been about more than the food on your table, it’s a tradition of sharing what you have with those less fortunate.” For them volunteering as a family this weekend has been a way to maintain their connection with community and honour the spirit of giving associated with the holiday. Feeding America provides information on ways families can help those in need, especially around Thanksgiving.
- The Giving Tree Tradition: When they were unable to volunteer, Kim’s family would create a “Giving Tree” at home during the years they were not able to go out and serve others. Each of them wrote down a way that they would either been kind or planned to be and placed their notes on the tree as reminders. It might not be as elaborate, but even simple acts of kindness, maybe helping a neighbour or donating food,” Kim said. And for my grandparents, it was a way to share the love with those around us, when we otherwise were unable to spread smiles throughout community. It is a reminder of what Thanksgiving should be about and that is a tradition we have held on to.”
Reflections at the End of a Day
A final thought to close the day can be a beautiful way to end Thanksgiving. Her grandparents would take the lead to talk about what the holiday has meant and to each family member. It gives the seniors an opportunity to reflect and provides a closure of sorts that everyone can take with them, Kim said.
Come join RetireFulfilled to be part of a community full of family, traditions with intent and remaining active in your retirement. Adopt new traditions that evoke the spirit of holiday and bring all set warmth, joy and togetherness to your family.
