You’ll Never Convince Me That Holiday Dishes Are Impractical

Every holiday season, my dad does the honor of unwrapping my grandmother’s two large vintage plates and a few serving bowls with cottagecore designs featuring — of course — turkeys. Seeing the treasured heirlooms on our Thanksgiving table brings me just as much joy as that first bite of pumpkin pie.  

We began using my grandmother’s dishes in 2018 when she handed them off to my dad (her son) once she stopped hosting the holiday. They instantly added a special touch to the meal. It may seem like a small addition, but the large platters require extra storage — a hurdle that would make it easy to keep them stowed away. Here’s why I think dedicated holiday plates are worth the storage space and the effort to take them out and put them away again. 

The plates have also ignited a newfound love for Thanksgiving within my dad, mom, sister, and me, and have made us all excited to create a feast together. We spend days prepping in a designated group chat to stay organized. My husband and dad cook the Thanksgiving turkey together, my sister and I share appetizer duties, and my mom tackles the sides. 

After dinner, we play games together in the family room — this year, my mom has challenged my husband to a game of giant Jenga! I love knowing these new memories will one day be associated with carefully pulling out the passed-down Thanksgiving platters.

Sure, we could use everyday dishes, but you know what? I don’t want to pass turkey on a random plate from the cupboard. I want the storied platter that reminds me of excitedly texting with my mom as we try to nail down what size turkey we should order or watching the parade as I cook one of my designated dishes, the cranberry sauce.

My parents store their holiday dishes in the awkward cabinet above their fridge, which, luckily, is deep enough to hold them. Even though my dad has to climb onto a chair every year to reach the plates, he believes it’s totally worth it — those dishes give him an instant hit of nostalgia. 

Of course, not everyone has a cabinet above the fridge, even an awkward one. Some kitchens barely have room for one set of plates, let alone an extra holiday assortment. I would argue that it’s still worth making room somewhere (at the top of a clothes closet or under a bed skirt, for example) for holiday dishes; it’s almost magical how they can conjure up decades-old memories and meaningful moments from more recent holidays.

And if you really, really don’t have space, let me suggest starting smaller: Even the tiniest touches can spark holiday joy. Over the years, my mom and dad have added to our shared Thanksgiving collection with smaller pieces like a turkey-shaped gravy boat, fall-themed salt and pepper shakers, and an autumnal butter dish. 

I love that these new items stir up the same feeling of cherished tradition as the massive platters, but don’t take up as much space. You can stow them in the way back of your cabinets or wherever you have spare room. Something as small as a holiday mug can get you into the spirit and hold special memories.

If you don’t have passed-down heirlooms, I highly recommend building your own holiday dish collection. You can start small — the dishes don’t have to be fancy or expensive. Even a single holiday platter or decorative serving bowl will immediately imbue a new sense of family tradition into the holiday.

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