I’m Hosting Thanksgiving for the First Time, and My Mom Gave Me the Best Decor Advice

I’m hosting Thanksgiving for my family for the first time, and I’m beyond excited. My mom has held the holiday at our house every year since I was born, and she always nails it. She’s a fantastic cook and an expert hostess. This season, though, celebrating in New York will be uncharted waters for us all, and I very much want it to feel special. I want it to still feel like Thanksgiving — not just any ol’ family visit. 

So, of course, I called my mom. I asked what she would do if she were in my place. How could I re-create that “warm and fuzzy” festive atmosphere, I wondered? I expected her advice to center around the menu or the tablescape, but my mom’s response surprised me: The answer, she said, lies in the napkin rings. 

Well, not just any ol’ napkin rings. My mom was thinking of our own napkin rings — the quirky paper turkeys pictured above. I actually made them when I was a child with my mom and my sister. So, of course, they hold a lot of sentimental value and unlock countless memories. These paper turkeys have adorned the table at each and every Dangel family Thanksgiving dinner for the last 20 years.

My mom and I have always set the table together (from a very early age, the style editor in me had opinions about the layout and decor, of course). She says each time we set out those turkey napkin rings, she’s reminded of how much fun we had making them — and how many other special moments they’ve helped us celebrate since. It’s those special moments we re-create year after year that make the holidays special. They bring back memories, make us feel connected, and help us look towards the future as we celebrate the past. 

If my mom were in my shoes for Thanksgiving, she’d ask her out-of-town guests to bring something for the table — and no, not just a dish of mashed potatoes or a pie — something decorative to make our Thanksgiving table feel just a bit more like theirs. Another approach? Ask whatever your guests’ favorite traditions may look like so they can share it (or you can find a way to work it into the celebration). This makes company feel welcome and special. 

Holiday magic doesn’t come from perfect place settings or the most impressive meal: It lies in little personal touches and the traditions we share. Our little paper turkey army has certainly seen better days, and when placed next to the fine china and fancy silverware, their googly eyes and paper plumes do look a bit silly. But they feel like home. That’s why the turkeys are so essential to our family’s Thanksgiving celebrations — and why I’ll be asking my mom to pack the turkeys in just a few short weeks.