This Thursday we are going to celebrate an American tradition we call Thanksgiving. Although it is truly an American concept attributed to the colonies of New England, it has roots back to Europe. The Separatists who fled on the Mayflower and the Puritans that arrived shortly after believed in fasting and feasting during difficult times or celebrating to thank God during good times.
As a annual celebration of the harvest and the bounty, Thanksgiving is a type of festival that spans cultures and millennia. In ancient times, the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians paid homage to their gods after the fall harvest. The Jewish people had an ancient harvest festival called Sukkot. And long before the Europeans came to America, the Native Americans had a tradition of celebrating the fall harvest also.
Thanksgiving brings people together whether you are family or not. Family members will often travel a long way home just to celebrate in their traditions. Thanksgiving is a way of bringing new and old traditions together. We go to grandma’s house and experience the Thanksgiving of our childhood, but we bring along with its new traditions too. Here are some ways that you can add tradition to your Thanksgiving Day.
- Get together with family or friends and bake up some dessert. What better way to share than baking a bunch of pies and handing them out to friends for family in need. Or donating them to a local Thanksgiving food table.
- Celebrate with local police and firefighters who often must work on Thanksgiving and other holidays.
- Call the day after Thanksgiving buffet day. Pool all your leftovers together and enjoy a game and dinner day. Or make it a movie day all day knowing you have dinner handled.
- Run a turkey trot. Lots of local communities sponsored 5K runs on the morning of Thanksgiving early as fund raisers. It also gives you a bit of activity before you sit down to eat your meal.
- Another tradition is watching the traditional football game or going out in the back yard and having a traditional family football game.
- Light a candle for those who have passed and won’t be able to gather with you before you eat dinner. Pass on a blessing of gratitude to and for them.
- Use the day after to begin your holiday baking. People love to receive home baked goods from family and friends probably more than they like other gifts.
Real Estate News
Wondering how low the mortgage rates will drop? I read a report that said that mortgage rates jumped up this week because of positive news about a COVID-19 vaccine. Despite this, rates are still a whole percentage point below a year ago. Several of the top institutions in the real estate industry are projecting an increase in mortgage rates over the next four quarters.
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) forecasts rates will start to steadily rise.
Local Greenville SC News
Need to burn some extra calories on Turkey Day? Here are some turkey trots in the Greenville area.
- Spartanburg’s Turkey Day 8k will go on as planned
- Anderson’s Electric City Gobbler has a participant limit
- Simpsonville’s Rudolph Run 5k will go on as planned
Greenville’s Turkey Day 5k has gone virtual
Here are some places where you can order Thanksgiving dinner to go in Greenville SC.
- Bobby’s BBQ
- Bucky’s BBQ
- CityRange Steakhouse Grill
- Denny’s
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
- Fork & Plough
- Henry’s Smokehouse
- Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
- Ji-roz
- Larkins Restaurants
- Maple Street Bisquit company
- Moe’s Original BBQ
- Monkey Wrench Smokehouse
- Oak Hill Café & Farm
- Old Europe
- Reid’s Fine Foods
- Restaurant 17
- Rick Erwin Dining Group
- Ruth’s Chris
- Sidewall Pastry Kitchen
- Stella’s Southern Bistro
- Strossner’s Bakery, Café & Deli
- Sullivan’s Metropolitan Grill
- Swamp Rabbit Café & Grocery
- Table 301
- The Fresh Market
- The Sweet Life
- The Spatual Café
- Topsoil Kitchen & Market
- Whole Foods Market
People are on the move and I am ready to help you buy or sell in the Greenville area. Please contact Victoria Cottle by email thevictoriacottlegroup@gmail.com or call (864) 275-3953 for your real estate needs in the Upstate of South Carolina!
Victoria Cottle is a Realtor® in the Greenville South Carolina area and if you, a friend, or a family member need assistance with selling or buying a home I can help. Referrals and people needing relocation assistance are welcome! Search Single Family homes in Greenville. Search Condos and Townhomes in Greenville.