Today, I found a short but entertaining article that really seems to offer the complete Thanksgiving package. The article primarily concerns the economics of Thanksgiving — the dollars, gallons of gas and sky miles that support our Turkey day festivities. It’s a fascinating illustration of how momentous a social and financial event Thanksgiving has become.
But the real highlight of the article is the author’s intended use for this information: as a rescue raft for tense family conversation and unexpected twists and turns at the table.
Per the author’s instructions, if you’re in a pinch, say “Hey, did you know that…” and then choose from the article’s handy list of conversation starters.
I’ve included some previews from each topic category below:
- The Road
AAA, the auto club, predicts 46.3 million people will be driving at least 50 miles for the Thanksgiving weekend. That’s the most for the holiday since 2007 and up 4.2 percent from last year.
- The Sky
This is the busiest air-travel time of the year. Airlines for America, the airline trade group, says 24.6 million passengers will fly over the Thanksgiving holiday period.
- The Food
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the typical 16-pound turkey will cost $21.65.
- The Shopping
The National Retail Federation predicts a 4.1 percent increase in holiday sales this season. Since the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, most Americans have regarded the following day as the “official” start of the holiday shopping season.
Happy Holidays, friends, and remember your statistics! You never know when you may need them.
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