Every year, students at GC eagerly anticipate Thanksgiving Break (with 2 extra days off) and the approaching holiday season. Many enjoy sleeping in, cooking, spending time with loved ones, and eating of course! However you celebrate, Thanksgiving is a great way to take a break from school and appreciate the good times.

Here’s how the Talon Team likes to celebrate Thanksgiving!

Executive Editor Mary Ellen McDermott ‘23:
“I really like the food! My dad engages in the 6+ hour process of smoking the turkey the day before Thanksgiving, which has a very delicious result. My mom makes the best stuffing and green bean casserole ever. And, because Thanksgiving is often on or near my dad’s birthday, we usually have a delicious cake with dessert!”

Executive Editor Kate Nonnenkamp ‘23:
“My family and I play a game my middle school principal taught me called ‘Empire.’ Basically, everyone has a secret name, and you are trying to guess who has which name. If you guess correctly, that person joins your team. It’s a really fun game that always has some surprises. It is something everyone enjoys doing, and it makes people laugh!”

A & E Editor Sarah Gandluri ‘24:
“I always love to sleep in, enjoying being warm even while the world outside is often in flurries. My family and I always cook large meals to share, both lunch and dinner – just one isn’t enough for my huge Indian family.”

News Editor Lily Laryea ‘24:
“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is to spend time with my extended family.”

Photography Editor Evan Brown ‘25:
“[I enjoy] eating with my older cousins and catching up with my family.”

A & E Editor Evan Nicholas ‘25:
“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is when everyone is all together grabbing food… with each other because I get to see all [of] my family, and not just the part of the family I am really close to and always talk to.”

Sports Editor Sarah Siegle ‘24:
“I enjoy visiting with family because that is what Thanksgiving is about—gratitude!”

Staff Writer Thierry Hines ‘23:
“My favorite tradition is going up to New Jersey to see my family up there and then going to New York and watching the Macy’s Day Parade as a family. Then, my family heads to Philadelphia and spends actual Thanksgiving there. I love it because it brings my family from multiple parts of the East Coast together and [allows us to] bond with each other.”

Staff Artist Christina Long ‘23:
“[My favorite tradition is] hanging out with my siblings and cousins and relaxing.”

Staff Writer Ethan Bird ‘24:
“My favorite tradition is just being able to spend time with everyone in my family. As time goes on, there is less and less time to spend together, and it’s nice just to be around the people that I love.”

Staff Photographer Sydney Holmes ‘24:
“My favorite thing is when my family goes around the table before Thanksgiving dinner and says what they are thankful for, and when we cook. These two moments are times where we are united and appreciative for all we have.”

Staff Writer Anthony Pham ‘24:
“I like to travel outdoors to places like Shenandoah Valley because I like being out in fall conditions.”

Staff Writer Julia Purdy ‘24:
“We make a pecan pie, [and] it is my favorite because my grandma always used to make it.”

Staff Writer Hanna Lemley ‘25:
“Eating food with my family is the best; we go all out when it comes to cooking.”

Staff Writer Ramsey Potur ‘25:
“My favorite Thanksgiving tradition to do during break is to watch the football games… because it is fun [having] all [of my] family around the tv watching [the] game.”

Staff Photographer Maggie Friel ‘26:
“I love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with my family. My family has watched it every Thanksgiving morning for as long as I can remember. Watching it is a time that [we] can bond over the music, shows, and characters and reminisce over years past.”

Staff Writer Samuel Seleshi ‘26:
“[My favorite tradition is] popping the sparkling apple cider; it’s fun.”

The Talon wishes you all a restful break and a Happy Thanksgiving!