On Thanksgiving day, at about 11 am, our family celebrates Snoopy Thanksgiving. We have done this for several years, and I knew it was officially a tradition when our daughter announced at dinner when she has kids, they will celebrate Snoopy Thanksgiving too. 
The origins of Snoopy Thanksgiving are simple and born out of necessity. The inspiration is the classic Thanksgiving special “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” Peppermint Patty, Marcy, and Franklin invite themselves to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving. Only a truly panicked person would enlist his dog to cook a feast. Nobody has ever accused Charlie Brown of being the epitome of cool capability, so it is no surprise that Snoopy willingly steps in and helps. Snoopy is like that.
While turkey and pumpkin pie cook back at the dog house, a chef’s-hat-wearing Snoopy toasts toast, pops popcorn, pretzes the pretzels, and finds Mrs. Brown’s secret stash of jelly beans. He puts together a meal for the kids, sets up the ping pong table in the yard, battles a vicious lawn chair, decorates the table using gravity and a good arm, and digs in after Linus gives a speech written by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Yum.
Peppermint Patty, forgetting her manners and her sensible shoes (Birkenstocks in November, no socks?), decides to verbally thrash Snoopy’s Thanksgiving. Mindful Marcy sets her straight, of course, and everyone piles into the Brown family station wagon for a trip to the matriarch’s condo for a real meal. They sing.
Snoopy and Woodstock, dressed as crisp, prim pilgrims, eat a feast the moment the car is out of sight. Snoopy’s a scamp, a hold-out (and a heck of a pilot/novelist/lawyer/hockey player/dog), but that isn’t the point. He teaches a lesson to the kids: it doesn’t matter what you eat on Thanksgiving, as long as your heart is grateful for what is on your plate.
Our tradition is to serve pretzels, popcorn, jelly beans, and buttered toast a la Chef Snoopy to the kids mid-morning on Thanksgiving Day. While eating, they watch the Peanuts DVD. It’s a great way to tide their tummies over to the real feast, usually served around 2pm. They also love to help prepare Snoopy Thanksgiving. It’s hard for preschoolers to help baste a turkey, but they can butter toast and put jellybeans in a bowl. It is very kid-controlled and they take great pride in their preparations. They are involved in the day, while learning the importance of family and cultural tradition.
Pilgrims weren’t as prim as we imagine. I think they would smile and approve of a three-year-old thanking God for the green jelly beans and for the miracle that is popcorn.
I love it! I’m a Snoopy-a-holic and so is my mom. I’m going to have to give some serious thought to making this part of our family tradition.
What a neat idea!
I remember you talking about this before and I have wanted to do it here too. Unfortunately we usually spend Thanksgiving out of town with family and I don’t think any of them would go for it. {sigh} Maybe next year! Your house sure sounds like fun!
That’s a wonderful tradition.
How great is THAT?! What a neat tradition Mopsy!
I love it! What a great tradition you have! Hmmmm… must consult with my wife and see if we can start doing Snoopy Thanksgiving as well.
Thanks for a bit of nostalgia there as well!
Love it – how fun!!!
We might have to try this! Great idea.
GET OUT! We started doing that just a few years ago, even invited a few friends over for it. Just yesterday we were talking about doing it at my brother’s house next week. I was wondering about when to do it. You’re idea is perfect. One day I’ll have to break down and buy the Peanuts Holiday Collection on DVD. Love it when Linus comes out on stage during the Christmas one. (We bought the Christmas music last year.)
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, my blog friend.
That is such a sweet tradition!
That is a fun family tradition! We will be watching the movie this year too!
What a great idea. 🙂 Maybe I’ll have to pick up that dvd, just in time.
That is such a wonderful idea. And yes, popcorn is miraculous.
I love Peanuts! Is the Thanksgiving one the one where Snoopy gets in a fight with a lawn chair? That is my most favorite scene from Peanuts ever!
How fantastic!! You gave me chills reading that. What a wonderfully imaginative home you have. What a beautiful tradition.
I too have the holiday DVD Collection. I was just saying to someone in Walmart that I NEED to get it. The great classics can not be forgotten.
FYI, I just nominated you for a blog award! 😛
Wow, Bethany, thank you very much!
Loved the Snoopy Thanksgiving tradition wish I could be there