Throughout the years, many families begin Thanksgiving traditions. Whether unique to the family or universal, many families come together to celebrate and give thanks.

Traditions can simply be sitting around the table eating turkey, but some traditions have little twists that are very special to Granville families.

While building gingerbread houses is generally associated with Christmas, for freshman Ruby Goodwin’s family, it is a Thanksgiving tradition.

We do it because my grandma didn’t grow up wealthy so getting anything extra wasn’t normal,” Goodwin said. So when her dad brought home a gingerbread house to build on Thanksgivng it was a good surprise. Now, my grandma brings over a gingerbread house for us to build every Thanksgiving.”

Many families don’t consider building a gingerbread house on Thanksgiving, but they may consider baking as a tradition.

“Every thanksgiving me and my grandpa make pizzelle cookies,” freshman Hannahy Fackler said. “We do it because my grandpa’s mom and her sisters would always do it, it’s sort of a part of italian culture.”

To many families, it is important to continue traditions that loved ones had originally started. For some, traveling is very important.

“My family and I go on a trip to Lakeside, a small gated community on an island on Lake Erie, with friends,” junior Lani Casto said. “My parents used to be counselors for a youth group with these friends and have continued to keep in contact over the years.”

As some families travel, some snuggle up in their own homes to celebrate surrounded by families.

“We never celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day, instead we all get together on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to watch the OSU football game,” senior Wilson Foster said.

As a tradition, some families play football and others watch, so it is very important to some students at Granville to celebrate with football and family.

Whether the tradition is unique or not, all the Thanksgiving festivities are held near to the heart. Spending time with family, playing games, making baked goods, or building a gingerbread house may be different for other families, but they are very special to the ones who hold them.