From November 26 to November 30, Flint Hill celebrated its annual Thanksgiving break, which was also extended by two full days for students thanks to the Faculty Professional Development days on the 24th and 25th. As the first major break of the academic year, whether traveling to see relatives or staying close to home for a restful week, the time away offered a perfect opportunity for everyone to recharge and reconnect with family.
Thanksgiving is a deeply rooted tradition that celebrates gratitude and time spent with loved ones. While many associate Thanksgiving with a big dinner and football, its origins date back all the way to 1621. That autumn, the newly arrived Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast, celebrating a successful harvest after the devastating first winter. This three-day event is considered the first Thanksgiving.
However, Thanksgiving as we know it today did not become an annual national holiday until centuries later. It was President Abraham Lincoln who, during the peak of the Civil War in 1863, formally declared Thanksgiving a national holiday as a way to unify the nation. The date was later formalized by Congress: the fourth Thursday of November.
Across the Flint Hill community, families honored the spirit of Thanksgiving in their own unique ways. “Thanksgiving break was amazing. I had lots of family over,” says Charlie Kropp ‘29. “I ate a lot of green bean casserole and some pumpkin pie.” The core of the holiday for many remains the Thanksgiving dinner, a time to gather with family and catch up over classic dishes.
Indeed, reconnection is an important aspect of the holiday. With many students having siblings away at college, distant relatives, and loved ones who live far away, getting to see everyone during Thanksgiving break is a prominent highlight.
“During Thanksgiving break, I was able to reunite with a long-distance relationship for the whole week,” says Evie Serich ‘26. “We went to DC, and we went to Winter Market. And, we had two Thanksgivings, one with my family and one with his family, and just the whole week was very fun.”
Similarly, the return of siblings and extended family proved to be a major source of excitement for many others. “During Thanksgiving break, my brother came home, and we spent a lot of time together. My cousins and a lot of family also came over, and we had a nice Thanksgiving dinner,” says Naaya Patel ’27. “And now that I’m back to school, I do miss sleeping in, but I’m excited for Winter break and Christmas.”
Understandably, the three weeks of school in between Thanksgiving break and Winter break are not only difficult due to the anticipation for Christmas and Winter break, but also due to the academic pressure of the end of the first semester. Many students share this sentiment, with some noting that they are drowning in tests and projects.
However, having had the opportunity to relax, travel, and reconnect with loved ones, the Flint Hill community is now prepared for the challenges that the end of a semester brings. The Thanksgiving break was a necessary week off, allowing students and faculty alike to approach the conclusion of the semester with renewed energy and focus as they count down the days until Winter break.
