Panthers, as you all know, the holiday season is quickly approaching, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This time of year allows family, relaxation, and gratitude to be the center of attention. Over the past few weeks, I have been interviewing Boulder High Students about their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. While many students stated that their highlights were “food,” “eating,” or “dinner,” others described unique family traditions that make the holiday especially meaningful for them. 

For many people, Thanksgiving is a time to rest and spend time with family and loved ones. Teja Greene, ‘26, shared that his family enjoys “watching movies together,” a simple but meaningful tradition. Similarly, Nola Patterson, ‘28, looks forward to “eating Thanksgiving dinner at my cousin’s house,” where family time is emphasized over everything else. Unsurprisingly, food was a key component in most of Boulder High School students’ traditions. West Merrill, ‘26, put it bluntly by stating, “A lot of people like to be with family, but honestly, my favorite part is eating good food.” From gravy to enchiladas, Boulder High students had various plates served in their families besides the classic turkey. Ruby Felix, ‘26, states, “My family has enchiladas every year,” while Diego Cintron kept it simple by emphasizing his love for gravy, saying, “Gotta be gravy.” Additionally, some students put their own twist on the meal. For example, Toby Goldman, ‘26, exclaimed, “Every year we try to make the turkey a new way, one year we fried it, one year we smoked it, etc.” Of course, Thanksgiving  is not only about food, for some families sports play a major role. “Gotta be Thanksgiving  football,” said Dylan Haney, ‘26, a statement reiterated by Liam Dorin, ‘26, who looks forward to “playing backyard football.” For Cody Lamb ‘29, Thanksgiving is about community, as he enjoys “going to Hudson Queen’s house,” a tradition that allows him to bond with friends during the holiday season. Across all of these interviews, one significant theme stood out: despite celebrating the holiday differently, gratitude appeared to be at the center of everyone’s experience. No matter how different students celebrate Thanksgiving, whether it’s experimenting with making the turkey, playing backyard football, or enjoying movies, it is clear that Thanksgiving remains to capture the core values of gratitude, reflection, and connection.