This week, college students headed home for Thanksgiving. While many families have their own holiday traditions- from grandma’s homemade apple pie to post-dinner naps with dad- we can’t forget that colleges and universities have some important Thanksgiving traditions of their own.

Here are some of our favorite ways colleges across the country are giving thanks and celebrating the spirit of the holiday. 

Host a family gathering

We often think of Thanksgiving as the ultimate family gathering, but there are plenty of college students and faculty who can’t make it home for the holidays. But who wants to spend Thanksgiving on an empty campus? That’s why many colleges and universities provide a “family” style gathering for members of their school community. 

At Eckerd College, for example, the Dean of Students hosts a formal meal for students and staff who remain on campus. After dinner, there are games, crafts, and of course football. As for the 1600 Buckeyes remaining at Ohio State, they’re all at the university’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. This free event is put on by several campus offices and has become a favorite tradition. Things look a bit different at Yale, though. Students, faculty, and staff can be found at the Omni Hotel feasting on an elaborate lunch buffet. This is the second year the event is being held, and by all accounts, the spread of traditional fixings is delicious!

Finally, several schools have created unique programs to support their international students during this quintessential American holiday. Prior to the pandemic, schools such as Smith, Temple, and Northwestern called upon the campus and local communities to host international students over the break. Unfortunately, the majority of these programs were suspended in 2020 and 2021, but we’re hoping families can begin to open their doors once again.

Give back to the community in creative ways

During the holiday season, there’s a bigger demand than ever for volunteers and donations at nonprofit organizations across the country. Colleges and universities offer a lot of community support thanks to creative charity events. 

The Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee hosts Turkeypalooza every year- a series of events to help fight against food insecurity. Our favorites include the quirky “Bring Your Turkey to Work Day” for staff and faculty, as well as the punny Pumpkin Pieve 5k fundraiser. 

Students at University of Maryland School of Medicine have been supporting the community of West Baltimore for 33 years! Project Feast- a student run organization- organizes an annual meal to feed those in need. In addition to food, the organization also connects people to community resources and distributes clothing and toiletries when available. 

But Project Feast isn’t the only group giving back at the University of Maryland. Each year student-athletes take part in Terpsgiving, a month-long donation drive. Sports teams compete to see who can collect the most donations to support a particular cause. This year, the teams were in a race to decrease food insecurity on campus and in the local area. 

Sullivan University put a creative spin on traditional food donations and serving. Their Culinary Arts Program has partnered with the Salvation Army to prepare and distribute holiday meals. Throughout the semester, students learn the essential skills to cook a Thanksgiving feast. We’re sure recipients appreciate their curriculum!

Play Some Football!

College football became synonymous with Thanksgiving in 1876 when Yale and Princeton played in the first major Thanksgiving football game. It was one of the few days of the year when most people were off from work and could actually watch the game! Since then, Thanksgiving bowls and classic rivalries have become an essential part of the holiday weekend. 

If you’re looking to watch a game this weekend, tune into the Iron Bowl and witness the classic rivalry between Auburn and Alabama. This rivalry actually dates back to the late 1800s when the schools first played one another. But as with many intense rivalries, things got a little too heated. Rumors swirled about strategy debates and game violence after the 1907 game. Unbelievably, the two teams didn’t meet again until forty-some years later. However, since then the game has been an annual tradition (even during the pandemic). Last year’s meeting was a real nailbiter, with Alabama claiming their win in overtime. Let’s see what excitement this year’s game brings! 

However, we can’t forget that there’s another major November rivalry, a rivalry so infamous it’s referred to simply as “the game.” For 118 years, the Michigan-Ohio State game has garnered attention for its intensity of competition, passionate fans, and high-stakes results. Interestingly, the teams are close in terms of overall wins over the past century, but Ohio has beat out Michigan in 17 of the past 20 games. Michigan picked up momentum once again in 2021, and we can’t wait to see what happens this year!