Turkey for Thanksgiving? Celebrations, traditions and old habits
Turkey has become the centerpiece of Thanksgiving in the United States. After living here for four years, I still wonder why this bird was chosen to symbolize gratitude for the pilgrims’ survival. 
I grew up in Romania, in a small ethnic community with roots in Northern Greece. For us, the biggest Christian Orthodox celebration is Easter — and lamb is the meal of choice.
My son became intrigued by the “turkey tradition,” so he and my husband recorded a special Thanksgiving episode of their podcast Zero Gravity called Eating Turkey Over Thanksgiving. They each took a position and presented arguments for and against it. The result is an entertaining twenty-minute dialogue that mostly shows how much fun they have as a team.
Celebrations usually begin as tokens of group values and community identity. But when we stop sharing the story behind them and only focus on the easy, fast symbols that money can buy, “celebration” quietly turns into “tradition.” And tradition, without meaning, becomes habit.
That shift from meaning to habit is exactly why, in my research interviews forth the latest book Parentship in Families as Teams, I invited parents to pause and ask themselves:
• Why are we doing this event, activity, or party?
• Is it for us? For the kids? Or maybe for what the neighbors, school, or peers might think?
• Does it bring us joy or satisfaction? Or is it quietly draining the joy we’re trying to create?
So, I ask you, dear reader:
🌱 What’s one tradition you are ready to drop this year?
🌱 What’s one new ritual you’d love to start?
The holiday season can make the invisible load feel heavier — not just for mothers, but for fathers too. The “holiday magic maker” role often falls on one person, but the impact is felt by the whole team.
🎉 Celebration Tips from Chapter 14: Building Family Team Rituals That Matter
In Chapter 14 of Parentship, we explore how celebration and recognition rituals can transform family dynamics. Here are a few practical ways to bring that spirit into your home this season:
• Start a Gratitude Circle: Before meals, take turns thanking someone in the family for a recent contribution — from cooking dinner to helping with homework.
• Celebrate Effort, Not Just Outcomes: Acknowledge when someone tries something new or shows kindness, even if the result isn’t perfect.
• Design Your Own Rituals: Whether it’s Friday pizza night, a winter walk, or a shared playlist for decorating the tree — make it yours.
• Honor Transitions: Birthdays, graduations, or even the end of a tough week can be marked with a simple ritual of acknowledgment.
These rituals don’t need to be elaborate. What matters is that they’re intentional, shared, and rooted in your family’s values.
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About the Author:
Steliana van de Rijt-Economu is a leadership (team) coach, global speaker, and author of the best-selling books “Parentship: A Leadership Guide for Families and Teams” and ‘Mothers as Leaders’. She is the founder of “Mothers as Leaders – learning across borders”, Linkedin community, a place dedicated to empowering working parents—especially women—to lead with purpose both at home and in the workplace