David Henrie is making sure Thanksgiving is as low-stress and as fun as possible for his family of five. This year, he’s partnering with Butterball and Hedley & Bennett to promote their collaborative product: the Thanksgiving Hosting Pants. These pants are designed to simplify the holiday with features like a pocket for a meat thermometer, a phone pocket, a towel, utensil loops, and even a built-in bottle opener.
You can get the Thanksgiving Hosting Pants from Butterball x Hedley & Bennett for free when additional pairs will be released on Nov. 10 and 17 at 12 pm ET.
Being a First-Time Host (With Butterball’s Help)
Henrie, a seasoned actor and director, is tackling a new challenge this year: hosting Thanksgiving for the first time. He jokes that many millennials face the daunting task of hosting, and he understands the pressure to recreate the memorable Thanksgivings of their childhoods.
“I feel like a lot of millennials have that nagging feeling of like ‘I need to do things’,” he said. “As we’re getting older, we’re like, ‘I think they had a point with this,’ and ‘Maybe I’ll host like they hosted back in the day.’”
He attributes this desire to emulate family traditions to a shift in perspective as millennials mature. He believes that this year felt like the right time to take on the responsibility of hosting and create those memories for his own family.
The Thanksgiving Hosting Pants, according to Henrie, are more than just a convenient product; they represent a reminder to not take oneself too seriously. “If you can let go of that pressure, that’s what the pants symbolize to me,” he explained. “They embrace a humorous element that lets you have fun, but at the same time, their utility is incredible.”
Bringing Italian-American Traditions to His 3 Kids
As an Italian-American, Henrie’s family traditions are filled with joy, feasts, and cherished memories. He’s eager to recreate those experiences for his children while also creating new traditions of his own.
“Italian American family, big Thanksgivings, lots of Thanksgivings, lots of turkeys, lots of Butterball turkeys,” he reminisced. “There’s all that pressure when you start doing it yourself, because I think we have these great memories of our childhood. We wanna recreate that great feeling that we had when we were kids.”
He shared memories of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, and the importance of family gatherings.
Beyond food, Henrie ensures his children connect with their heritage through other meaningful practices, such as using Italian names, speaking a little Italian, and spending time in Italy. “One of the things Italy is most proud of is their food and food culture. So we try to recreate dishes that bring that heritage into the family room.”
On Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Henrie is reprising his role as Justin Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, this time as a father navigating the human world while mentoring a young wizard. This year, he made his TV directing debut on the show, a particularly rewarding experience.
“It was an absolute joy,” he shared. He prioritized creating a safe and happy environment for the child actors, drawing on his own experience as a child actor.
The show has captivated his daughters, with his youngest imitating the style of her character, Billie. He finds magic in creating experiences for his children, especially around the holidays.
“Kids learn through what they see, touch, and feel through their senses. I try to create experiences for them that they’ll remember,” he said. “For me, that adds magic to life.”
Kids learn through what they see, touch, and feel through their senses. I try to create experiences for them that they’ll remember. For me, that adds magic to life.
In conclusion, David Henrie embodies the spirit of a modern family man, balancing career success with cherished traditions and a commitment to creating joyful experiences for his children. He hopes that the Thanksgiving Hosting Pants can help others shed the stress of hosting and embrace the fun and connection that the holiday represents.
