Thanksgiving break is a peculiar stretch of the semester—a brief migration from the academic chaos of CWRU back to the familiar chaos of home. It’s a time marked by turkey, football and the annual emotional gauntlet of explaining your relationship status to extended family members. While the holiday is allegedly about gratitude, for many students it’s also about navigating the strange romantic terrain that emerges the moment you step off campus.
The Thanksgiving Texter: Nearly every student encounters the infamous “Thanksgiving texter.” This person has not spoken to you since the leaves were green, but at 2:37 p.m. on Thursday you will receive a single, suspiciously casual message: “Happy Thanksgiving.”
The meaning is unclear. Are they thinking about you? Are they just bored waiting for the stuffing? Anthropologically, this text usually indicates a fleeting mix of nostalgia, loneliness and mild indigestion. Respond only if you’re prepared for the emotional consequences—or if you’re bored waiting for stuffing.
Seasonal Situationships: Returning home for break often triggers a dangerous phenomenon: the revival of the “might-have-been” situationship. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s the ambient warmth of a suburban Applebee’s. Either way, you may find yourself entertaining the idea of reconnecting with a high school ex whose peak personality trait was owning three pairs of Nike Elites.
These reunions tend to last approximately 48 hours—ending either when one of you remembers why the relationship failed or when someone’s mom asks, “So … is this serious?”
Surviving the Turkey Dump: Historically, the week of Thanksgiving is one of the most common breakup periods of the year. Stress, distance and the sudden clarity that comes from sitting at your childhood kitchen table can push even the most stable couples to the brink.
If you make it through the break still together, congratulations—you’ve entered certified cuffing territory. You are now eligible for matching holiday pajamas.
If not? At least emotional devastation pairs beautifully with leftover pie.
The Post-Thanksgiving Spiral: Returning to campus after break tends to yield one of three predictable emotional states:
- The Reformer: You swear you’re turning your life around. New study plan. New habits. New you. (This will last until Wednesday.)
- The Nostalgic: You accidentally caught feelings for someone back home. That someone owns multiple flannels and has not left your hometown in nine years.
- The Chaotic: You’re bored, stressed and vaguely unhinged—prime conditions for texting someone you absolutely should not. This is the season when questionable romantic decisions flourish.
Happy Thanksgiving, Spartans. May your turkey be warm, your family tolerable and your situationships stable enough to survive Black Friday.