What Christmas is to winter, Easter is to spring, and July 4th is to summer, Thanksgiving is to fall. These days, Thanksgiving is becoming eclipsed by Black Friday, which is starting to become a holiday in its own right. That is not to say Thanksgiving has completely lost its relevance. Every year, Elder students continue to celebrate Thanksgiving in their own special ways.

In Price Hill, Thanksgiving is synonymous with the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. At the fun filled event, the streets are filled with floats and costumed people. St. Williams Parish is included in the procession, along with Hart Pharmacy, the St. Lawrence Children’s Choir, the Covedale Center for Performing Arts, Frisch’s Big Boy, and antique cars. This year, the grand marshal of the parade is the newly-elected mayor of Cincinnati, John Cranley, a Price Hill native.

One of the most noticeable appearances at the parade is the Elder High School Band as it makes its way down Glenway Avenue. Playing songs such as the Alma Mater and the Fight Song, the Spirit of Elder brightens the mood as it marches through the core of Elder territory. Junior Andrew Humphries says “my favorite song to play in the parade is the Fight Song because it seems to affect the crowd the most.”

“While it is cold, it is fun participating, especially when people cheer us on for Elder and sing along with the songs,” says Humphries, a sousaphone player.

Another important event on Thanksgiving morning is the Thanksgiving Day race which runs through downtown Cincinnati and even into northern Kentucky. Unlike most road races, which are 5k long, the Thanksgiving race is 10k, a full 6.2 miles long. Among those crazy enough to embark on the challenge are runners on Elder’s cross country team and it is a feat even for them. Used to running 5ks, Adam Gardner said, “I have to go a little slower to save some energy for the second 5k. The second half will make or break your race.”

‘My favorite part is the end of the race. There are thousands of people lining the streets and it gets my adrenaline going,” continues Gardner. After the completing the grueling race, the runners are invited to indulge in the Gatorade, water, granola bars and other snacks at the finish line. Though the snacks at the race are tasty enough, the best is yet to come on Thanksgiving Day.Whether you watch the parade or run the Thanksgiving Day Race or not, you’re more than likely to entertain your taste buds with a Thanksgiving feast. Regardless of where the dinner is, it is sure to be fit for a king. Nothing is better on a chilly fall Thanksgiving evening than being surrounded by family and indulging in good ‘ole home cooking. You’re sure to eat turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, and other succulent delicacies.

In the words of Gardner, “I throw down some turkey with uncle coach Dickman and we play some pool.”

Thanksgiving is a time-honored American tradition. For many students at Elder High School, it can mean more than eating and can include other events such as watching or playing in the parade, or running a race. Whatever your Thanksgiving traditions are, it is sure to be an enjoyable day.