Thanksgiving Traditions Highlight Football and Food

Thanksgiving traditions are prominently marked by football and unique culinary practices across the United States. The Texas Longhorns have a rich history of playing on Thanksgiving, having last played in 2015, while the Detroit Lions have an enduring Thanksgiving Day game tradition thanks to George A. Richards' marketing strategy in 1934. Families across America often partake in casual touch football games, complete with humorous, unwritten rules. Regionally, Thanksgiving menus vary significantly; in Iowa, green bean casserole is a staple dish, whereas Maine has a historical variety of meals as documented in women's diaries from the 1870s to the 1940s. Additionally, the spirit of Thanksgiving is celebrated through community events, such as the Syracuse choir's participation in a festival in Germany, emphasizing the holiday's broader cultural connections.