Thanksgiving...traditions and football.

 Everyone has childhood memories of Thanksgiving, at least in the US.  I am no different.  I grew up in Michigan, and was raised near Detroit.  

You may know all about the Macy's Day Parade.  I was raised with the J. L. Hudson's Parade, and it was just as impact-full. 

Woodward Ave...J L Hudson Parade, Detroit, MI  

So, we sometimes would make the trek to the parade, however, most of the time we would watch it from our living room, on our black and white TV.  

After the parade was another tradition.  That was the LIONS football game.  The Lions' annual tradition of playing on the American holiday, which began in 1934, is nearly as old as the franchise itself. In fact, they're the biggest reason why football and Thanksgiving are synonymous, even if the Lions haven't enjoyed as much success on the holiday as other franchises.

It all started on Thanksgiving Day in 1934, when owner George A. Richards decided to play on the holiday to attract more fans.

Richards was known for his marketing acumen, and his Thanksgiving plan was an immediate hit. The Lions at the time weren't attracting much of a crowd because the Detroit Tigers were the city's main sports attraction. But on that Thanksgiving, the Lions not only sold out the stadium, they also had to turn people away at the gates. 

The Lions lost to the Bears, but a new team tradition was born. 

Other teams had played on Thanksgiving before 1934, but the Lions were different because Richards owned a radio station that was a major affiliate of the NBC Blue Network. Richards negotiated an agreement with NBC to broadcast his Thanksgiving games on 94 stations across the country. WRITTEN BYSHANNA MCCARRISTON

So, on Thanksgiving 2020,  I will watch the Lions play...and I will be taken back to my childhood...and black and white images, and turkey, and all things good.

Happy Thanksgiving, 

Love,

The Lass