For Americans around the world Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and tradition. Families group together and find time to connect with each other like no other time of year. To accompany this feeling of togetherness, certain staples such as ‘The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’ and ‘The National Dog Show’ air on TV as yet another festivity of the holiday. However, no TV event is more important than watching an NFL game with your whole family on Thanksgiving Day.
American football spans over the majority of the year for Americans, but holiday games have a special significance to those who choose to tune in. For my family, seeing the image of John Madden cutting into his Turducken is a true sign that we are all together once again. The magic of watching an NFL game goes beyond the game itself, but just hearing the music, the commentating and the lore of Thanksgiving’s past that is showcased from an NFL broadcast is something special that no other tradition could replace.
On top of vibes, the competitiveness of the actual game drives the Thanksgiving spirit even farther. Even if you’re not a fan of one of the classic Thanksgiving teams like the Cowboys or Packers, it is worth it to live in the anticipation of which team will score next. Even if you aren’t a cowboys fan, watching the players jump into the red Salvation Army bucket ties it all back to the holiday season. Friendly bets, conversations of who the MVP should be and even the occasional yell of frustration characterize an enjoyable family experience.
The best part about Thanksgiving football is its ability to bring people together. Whether it’s through charity advertisements, Salvation army buckets or even a back yard football game with cousins, football unites families together even if it’s a competitive game.
The most common argument against football on Thanksgiving is that it brings attention away from being with your family and fixes eyes on the TVs. In my experience, this is not the result of the game playing on the TV. Some of my favorite family memories are talking about football with my grandpa in front of the TV. For us, watching football brings us together far more than it drives us apart and is a way for us to bond because of the players on the screen.
Others may argue that such a gruesome sport shouldn’t be the centerpiece of the holiday. While this may be the case for some it is a fact that football airs on the TV almost every week before Thanksgiving as well. Watching the game of a holiday compared to a random sunday really has no difference, even if the whole family is there.
In a holiday that is so often characterized with food, it is important to value the things that bring the family together. Whether that be football or some sort of other bonding activity, finding something to connect with the whole family is crucial to the holiday of thanksgiving. For me, that has always been gathering around the TV with my food and watching my favorite team (The Green Bay Packers) compete.
