With Boston College’s option for students to stay on campus through the Thanksgiving break, more students will celebrate the holiday in Chestnut Hill this year than in the past. Since many students may feel conflicted about how to spend Thanksgiving away from family, here are some ways to still get into the fall spirit, while also staying safe and feeling grateful for the opportunity to finish up the semester on campus.
Watch some iconic fall and Thanksgiving scenes.
Get cozy, grab some pie and apple cider, and turn on a fall-spirited movie! It’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit. Some movies that feature iconic Thanksgiving scenes include Home for the Holidays, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Free Birds, You’ve Got Mail, Tower Heist, The Blind Side, Addams Family Values, Garfield’s Thanksgiving, and Rocky. If TV shows are your thing, some series with Thanksgiving-themed episodes include The Office: “WUPHF.com,” Seinfeld: “The Mom & Pop Store,” Friends: “The One With All the Thanksgivings,” Bob’s Burgers: “Turkey in a Can,” Friday Night Lights: “Thanksgiving,” Parks and Rec: “Harvest Festival,” and more.
Make or order a Thanksgiving feast with your roommates.
Even though you probably are not blood-related, your roommates can count as your family too. If you do not have a kitchen on campus, order a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from BC Dining. Another great option is to start your own Thanksgiving traditions. Order from a local restaurant and substitute turkey and mashed potatoes for some sushi from Fin’s or a burrito bowl at Amelia’s. Some other local restaurants that offer delivery or pick up services include Sushi Momento, Pino’s, and Farmstead Table.
Host a virtual Thanksgiving party.
Just because you can’t be with your loved ones in person doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with them at all! Thanks to technology (specifically Zoom), you can tune in to your family’s Thanksgiving dinner. Another option is to plan a “Friendsgiving” with your friends over Zoom, so you can all dine “together,” no matter where you are in the world. You can also incorporate a theme for the Zoom party, such as setting a fun dress code or simply naming what you are thankful for about each other.
Write down the things you are thankful for.
It is always beneficial to take time to reflect on what you are truly grateful for in life, but this tip is especially helpful if you are feeling a wave of emotions during this time. Even though you may feel like you are missing out by not spending the holiday with your family and friends at home, there is still plenty to be thankful for. There are many ways you can go about doing this–jot down bullet points, pen a letter to your family, or express your gratitude through various forms of art.
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show.
The show must go on! Even though crowds cannot gather for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the show will still air virtually on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Instead of the typical march, several theatrical and musical performances are scheduled to occur, including from Hamilton, Mean Girls, the Big Apple Circus, Leslie Odom Jr., Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Karol G, Bebe Rexha, Brett Young, and more. The National Dog Show, which will also not have spectators, will air immediately after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. You can also live stream the show to keep the tradition of Thanksgiving entertainment alive.
Graphic by Olivia Charbonneau / Graphics Editor
