It's about that time of year... We start bundling up in cozy sweaters, the leaves start changing, and people start playing Christmas music WAY too early. Don't get me wrong - I love the holiday season, but the hype and commercialism surrounding Christmas completely overshadows my favorite holiday of the year - Thanksgiving. People always tend to get confused when I tell them that my favorite holiday isn't the one that we spend opening gifts. Here's my explanation as to why Turkey Day is the best day:

The Food

This one is a given. Food is something that I am INCREDIBLY passionate about, so naturally, I love Thanksgiving. I’ll be honest, I didn’t start appreciating Thanksgiving as much as I do until I entered college. I now realize how difficult it is to purchase and prepare a meal. To be presented with an entire spread of delicious food free of charge? Complete bliss. And the specific menu for a Thanksgiving meal is incredible. Thanksgiving is the only time a year that I get to have turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, green bean casserole, AND pumpkin pie; and boy, do I take advantage of it.

Family

Thanksgiving is one of the best times to spend quality time with my family. It’s one of the few times a year that my entire extended family celebrates together, and seeing my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents is always a treat. Whether we’re preparing food or enjoying it at the dinner table, we are always laughing and enjoying each other's company. Thanksgiving is the ultimate family bonding time.

No Presents

That’s right - I adore the fact that Thanksgiving does not include gift-giving. The absence of presents eliminates the pressure and anxiety of shopping. Thanksgiving is simply about enjoying great food and being with the people you love. Material items are unnecessary to having a special day.

The Weather

Thanksgiving is right at that sweet spot between autumn and winter. As someone who loves fall, I appreciate being able to cuddle up in a sweater and a scarf, but not having to trudge through several feet of snow.

Tradition

Whether you have a small family or a large family, everyone has their respective Thanksgiving traditions. I enjoy the comfort of knowing exactly what to expect each year. I love that my family has our own special rituals that are specific to us - it makes me feel part of something much bigger than myself.

Black Friday

Black Friday sales are almost good as Thanksgiving itself. Waking up at the crack of dawn and fighting through mobs of people may not always be pleasant, but it’s definitely worth the incredible deals you can get on presents for your friends… or for yourself.

Leftovers

Following Thanksgiving, your fridge contains a month’s worth of turkey sandwich ingredients. Can’t get much better than that.