Is Thanksgiving the Best Day of the Year? Here’s the Case for a “Yes”

With Halloween out of the way, it’s time to focus on one very simple, very important question: Is Thanksgiving the best day of the year?

Thanksgiving has everything: food, football, family (in tolerable doses), and zero pressure to do more than just show up. So why do I think Thanksgiving might just be the ultimate holiday? Let’s take a look.

1. No Strings Attached: Just Show Up and Eat

Let’s start with the basics. Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays where you’re not expected to bring a gift, memorize a holiday story, or keep a whole family tradition alive. Nope—Thanksgiving’s beauty lies in its simplicity. Just show up, sit down, and dig in. No religious obligations, no frantic gift shopping, and no keeping up with tradition for tradition’s sake. It’s a holiday made for people who want to relax, eat, and catch up on whatever life updates the family might be interested in hearing (like, “Yes, I’m still single, thanks”).

2. The Football Lineup: Real Games, All Day

For all the football fans out there, Thanksgiving is pure magic. No game switching or keeping up with Red Zone—this is a lineup of real games, start to finish, with a fresh game queued up as soon as one ends. Thanksgiving is essentially a marathon of football, where each game is an excuse to stay seated on the couch, and no one expects you to do anything productive. Isn’t it amazing when doing nothing is actually the main activity?

Thanksgiving football is a special kind of experience... and with a cold drink in hand, you’re set for the day.

3. The Feast: Pick, Choose, Repeat

Now, let’s talk about the food. Thanksgiving is like a picky eater’s paradise: there’s so much on the table, nobody’s going to notice if you triple up on mashed potatoes and skip the green bean casserole altogether. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pies—the classics just keep coming. And the best part? Leftovers. Because, at the end of the day, Thanksgiving is the gift that keeps on giving... straight into the weekend.

The feast doesn’t stop at dinner—it rolls right into Friday, Saturday, and if you’re lucky, Sunday.

4. The Unspoken Rule: If You Can’t Cook, Bring Booze

For those who might not be blessed in the kitchen, Thanksgiving has a brilliant unspoken rule: if you can’t cook, bring alcohol. Is Aunt Carol’s pumpkin pie a little questionable? Not to worry—there’s always someone else who’s got you covered with a nice bottle of wine or an overly ambitious holiday cocktail. Thanksgiving, my friends, is an all-inclusive event.

5. Turkey Trot or Pickup Football: Choose Your Pain

Ah, the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot—a chance to earn those mashed potatoes before you even dig in. But for those who prefer their exercise with fewer early mornings and more post-beer, there’s always the classic pickup football game. After a few beers, it’s all fun and games until someone’s hamstring calls it quits. The game “officially” ends when half the team is down for the count and everyone agrees it’s time to eat. My turkey trot is just a 5-meter relay, and it's back and forth from my recliner...

Whether you’re running a few feet to the fridge or a full relay, Thanksgiving’s got you covered.

6. Friendsgiving: Thanksgiving’s Cooler Cousin

Now, if family gatherings aren’t exactly your vibe, let me introduce you to Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving’s cooler, more laid-back cousin. Friendsgiving is everything you love about Thanksgiving but with the added bonus of skipping the family drama. You’re free to hang out, eat the same food, and avoid those innocent questions about your life choices. But hey, who doesn’t secretly enjoy a little family drama? Just admit it.

7. The Best Fall Weather: Sweater Weather Supreme

Thanksgiving also has the weather down to perfection. There’s a crisp chill in the air, the kind that calls for sweatpants, cozy blankets, and nothing more ambitious than a good nap. Thanksgiving just knows how to set the mood. It’s like fall at its finest, made for lounging and having nowhere else to be.

8. Honorable Mentions: Leftovers, and That Post-Thanksgiving Peace

Other holidays could never: Thanksgiving leftovers are practically a gift in themselves, and that post-Thanksgiving meal calm? Unmatched. There’s something about watching the family finally quiet down after a meal, everyone settled into their food comas, that just feels like holiday magic.

Conclusion: Thanksgiving Wins—Hands Down

Thanksgiving may not have the glitz and glamour of other holidays, but what it lacks in sparkle, it makes up for in pure, unadulterated relaxation. Food, football, and family time (with a side of whiskey or wine)—there’s simply no better combo. And if you’re looking to bring a little extra humor to this grand day, check out our collection of Thanksgiving T-shirts, designed to celebrate the funniest, quirkiest, and best parts of the holiday. Grab one for yourself, wear it to Friendsgiving, or save one for that pickup football game to get a few laughs. Thanksgiving is the real Best Day of the Year, and our T-shirts are here to help you celebrate it in style.