Americans Celebrate Holiday In Many Ways Family, Feasting, Football And Fun Mark Thanksgiving

Families of all sizes gathered to give thanks and chow down Thursday, from a huge clan in Ohio that has celebrated together for the past 60 years to the McCaugheys of Iowa - with seven new members who aren’t quite ready for turkey yet.

Alice Najarian has played host to a family feast in Swanton, Ohio, every year since 1937 - when 30 people showed up. This year, Mrs. Najarian, 84, needed 30 loaves of bread to make enough stuffing for 115 people.

Mrs. Najarian is one of three family members who have made it to each of the celebrations - which feature pinochle, football and lots of gabbing - and she hopes to continue that streak.

“If I’m up to it, I’ll try it another year,” she said.

Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey planned to spend much of the holiday at the hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, where their septuplets were born Nov. 19.

About 9,000 runners in Atlanta built up an appetite before the big meal by competing in a marathon Thursday morning. Elsewhere in the city, the Rev. Hosea Williams held his annual at his Feed the Hungry and Homeless dinner.

“We’re doing much more than feeding hungry bellies. We’re feeding hungry minds. We’re trying to lift the spirits of the downtrodden,” said Williams, who expected to serve about 35,000 people.

Everything is big in Texas, including Thanksgiving celebrations. About 20,000 people dined at each of the two huge gatherings in Houston, Superfeast and Big Feast. In San Antonio, an estimated 23,000 diners turned out for the annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner.

A 27-year tradition came to an end in Salt Lake City. Chris Ritzakis, owner of Nector’s restaurant, said he couldn’t afford the $5,000 it costs to provide a free meal to about 2,000 of the city’s needy.

“I hate to break a tradition, but all good things have to come to an end,” said Ritzakis, whose financial problems stem from a recently opened second restaurant.

About 150 people in Durango, Colo., ate their Thanksgiving meal aboard the Mayflower - a 60-foot-long van converted by the moving company.

About 200,000 people were expected Thursday night in downtown Kansas City, Mo., where Marcus Allen, running back for the NFL’s Chiefs, was to throw on a switch turning on 60 miles of Christmas lights in the city’s shopping district.