Every year for Thanksgiving, Rebecca Duran, junior, invites her family from St. Louis and her aunt from Washington D.C. to celebrate at her house.

They enjoy a meal together that consists of turkey, cranberry sauce, rolls, marshmallow sweet potatoes and Duran’s personal favorite, pistachio salad. The entire family loves the green bean casserole, which everyone tries to get the last bite of, Duran said. 

After dinner, her family all sits together and builds a 10,000 piece puzzle, which is very chaotic, but it is her favorite tradition, Duran said. 

“Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays,” Duran said. “To me, Thanksgiving means to celebrate all you have and all you had.” 

However, due to the COVID-19 restrictions that came into effect Tuesday, Nov. 17, Duran and her family are having a smaller Thanksgiving with her in-town family. These restrictions include a limit to all gatherings of 10 people, no indoor dine in options at restaurants and bars, and 25 percent capacity for business, gyms, and places of worship.

“I am grateful that my family is close,” Duran said. “Though we can not hug them, we can at least see them and talk to them in person while keeping distance and being safe.

Like Duran, Mary Lewis, freshman, is having a small Thanksgiving at her grandparents’ house in St. Louis. Normally, Lewis and her family would travel to Chicago together.

The main reason Lewis would celebrate Thanksgiving in Chicago was to Black Friday shop with her family. They would usually shop at Bloomingdales, Athleta, Macy’s and North Michigan Shops. After shopping, Lewis’s family would go to Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop to drink hot chocolate. 

Her grandpa makes the best turkey and the holiday itself has the beat meal, Lewis said. 

“I am so grateful for my family, friends and everything that God has blessed me with,” Lewis said, “[I] love getting to share those things during prayer when we celebrate Thanksgiving.” 

Adriano Robins, sophomore, goes to a family friend’s house in Ladue every year to celebrate Thanksgiving, but this year he is celebrating at home with his mom. He said he is upset he can’t see as many people, but is looking forward to the quality time with his mom. 

Robins’s favorite tradition is making the Thanksgiving stuffing with his dad. 

“Thanksgiving is about appreciating and loving everything you have, especially family and friends,” Robins said.

Robins said his family and friends have supported him through his best and worst, especially this year, and they have made 2020 so much better. 

“On this Thanksgiving in 2020, it’s all about gratitude,” Robins said. “Without my family and friends making me laugh, being so kind and picking me up while I’m down, I wouldn’t have been the person I am today.”