Behind the collective feast and public ritual is a personal dimension: the holiday as each of us has lived it, laughed about it, imagined it or reinvented it. Nine accomplished writers, including Wesley Morris, Masha Gessen, Elliot Ackerman and Jessica B. Harris, share their stories of the holiday.

And don’t forget to check out our feature The 400-Degree Thanksgiving, where Sam Sifton and Melissa Clark cook a feast in just eight hours. Food