Holidays and Football Go Together Like Turkey and Gravy

The holidays wouldn't be the holidays without the post-feast football game. But do you know how the Thanksgiving tradition began? Let's take a walk back in history to its origins, which include a marketing ploy by the brand new Detroit Lions to outshine the city's baseball team.

Plentiful Options This Thanksgiving

Americans have been playing football on Thanksgiving Day since Abraham Lincoln was president. The first Thanksgiving Day game happened in 1869 with Rutgers vs. Princeton, only six years after football itself was popularized.

But when we think about Thanksgiving Day football, we think of the NFL. Mainstay team the Detroit Lions played their first league Thanksgiving Day game in 1934. It was meant as a way to draw Motor City fans to the new football team since the Tigers baseball team was getting too much press. The event was successful and the Lions have played every Thanksgiving since.

The tradition continues this year with three Thanksgiving games -- the Bills versus the Lions, the Giants vs. the Cowboys, and the Patriots vs. the Vikings.

Keeping Up With Christmas

Football fans have ensured the game remains a strong tradition on Christmas Day as well. For the first time in league history, three Christmas games will be played-- the Packers versus the Dolphins, the Broncos vs. the Rams, and the Buccaneers vs. the Cardinals.

Create a New Holiday Tradition

Make this year's holiday even more special by "upping your game" to line up the entertainment. Football games are quintessential Americana, and what better way to celebrate the season than making plans to attend a game in person.

Contact Xenia Events to plan your holiday football getaway with your family and friends. It just might be the best gift you could give (and receive)! We can coordinate all the details to take your family out of your living room and into the stands of any NFL game. From tickets to hotels, and transportation to and from the big game -- we make it all easy for you.