In 1621 the Pilgrims and Native Americans at Plymouth Rock held a feast giving thanks for the autumn harvest. Now, 495 years later, we still celebrate Thanksgiving but to some, Black Friday is more important.

Thanksgiving means many different things to different people, and everyone celebrates differently, whether it's stuffing yourself with stuffing, or going out to eat and watching football, or missing class for 3 days. Now more than ever, it seems as if Black Friday and the insane deals and sales are more important than spending time with family and giving thanks for all of the year's blessings.

To me, Thanksgiving is about spending time with my family in and out of the kitchen, not camping out in front of Walmart or Best Buy all of Thanksgiving day just so I can get a 50" flat screen or a bunch of other stuff. Prior to my maternal grandparents moving to Florida, I would go spend the day before thanksgiving at my grandparents' house and help cook the next day's food. Now that they've moved away, I help my parents cook at home and help my paternal grandmother in the kitchen. Cooking is something I've always enjoyed doing, and the holiday season is a time for me to perfect my cooking skills and learn new skills.

Some other traditions I have for Thanksgiving, along with helping in the kitchen, are putting up the Christmas tree after we get home from dinner with my grandparents, eating leftover honey baked ham sandwiches and creamed corn, and playing Mexican Train or Farkle with my grandmother. When my grandma, grandpa and I start playing Mexican Train, the competition is intense and we often end up playing games until well after midnight.I've only been Black Friday shopping one time and in all honesty, I didn't think it was that amazing. I'd rather stay up late watching movies and sleeping in late the next day (if you're looking for a good movie to watch this Thanksgiving. here are my top 15 movies to watch! Happy watching!).

This Thanksgiving, enjoy the time you are able to spend with your family, and I hope you are able to form new traditions and memories as well as keeping with the old.

Happy Thanksgiving!