Thanksgiving Day Traditions in Transition

You’ve read about it in the EP Reporter a few times now.  November has always meant “Tradition” for a number of reasons.  For many, the fall season signifies the start of the holidays.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years & others. People put away their spring and summer stuff and plan to settle in for “a long winter’s nap.”  However, apparent climate change has led to recent mild winters in Southern New England.  The onset of fall has also been a time of high school and college reunions for many. And what of sports?  More on that later. For East Providence, some of these traditions have changed a bit.

Holidays
While “holidays” remain a strong and beloved traditional time for many, they have changed a bit.  The popularity of Amazon and other online shopping venues have diminished and almost eliminated the need for brick & mortar shopping malls or independent stores.  No more strolling through a mall or driving to a “downtown” somewhere in search of that ideal present or home decoration.  Even large home-cooked holiday meals, for some, have been replaced by catering spreads or take-out.  Many holiday gifts are simply a gift card or check.  Fewer real Christmas trees are purchased given way to artificial type.  In fact, finding a fresh Christmas tree lot can be difficult.  The big box stores are a preferred source for many as the corner tree lots that used to pop up everywhere are mostly gone.  And of course, the high price for goods and food has  lessened the amount and intensity of holiday gatherings. Schools are even prohibited in most cases from allowing kids to bring in their favorite food for a classroom celebration due to health guidelines and regulations.  No more bringing grandma’s brownies or cookies to a class party.  Even church participation is different and - for many reasons - has smaller attendance. At least one Catholic church in East Providence has no assigned priest and must share a pastor with another parish.  There aren’t many traditional Midnight Mass celebrations with a full choir and instrumental accompaniment on Christmas Eve. Maybe a couple, but not like before.

Thanksgiving Day Football
And what of Rhode Island’s longest standing holiday high school rivalry?  East Providence and La Salle have played each other on Thanksgiving morning for 94 years.  Since 1929 the two schools have played each other in a rivalry unsurpassed by any other in the state.  The “big game” often had meaning for a state championship and was watched annually by 8 to 10,000 fans.  It is an intense rivalry which has been on life-support in recent years when the RI Interscholastic league made the game a non-league, strictly exhibition game. "Beginning in 2014 all Thanksgiving Day “league games” must be played during the regular season.  As a result, all semifinal games will be played on the Friday before Thanksgiving. The traditional Thanksgiving Day games will be played as in the past, but as “non- league” games. Divisional championship games will be played a minimum of seven days after Thanksgiving," said former RIIL full time director Tom Mezzanotte at that time.  

The plug could be pulled on this holiday rivalry any year now.  Also, after a long period of equal give and take, La Salle has dominated the series.  Several reasons have caused this with one belief by many that private school recruiting efforts make it impossible for public schools to compete.  Many in Rhode Island support separating the public and private schools into different leagues.

At one time, EP and La Salle were always among leaders for state football championships, But Hendricken has dominated of late.  The RI leaders in total state titles are Hendricken 18, LaSalle 17, East Providence 15, Cranston East 14, Rogers 11.  And so, the once storied Townie-Ram rivalry is all but gone as older Townie and Ram alumni remember it.  Hendricken has raced ahead of everybody with their consecutive state titles from 2010-2016.  LSA won their 16th title in 2017 and Hendricken won again from 2018-2021 (no game in 2020 due to Covid) and Hendricken defeated North Kingstown in the 2023 super bowl for its 18^th state title.  LaSalle’s current students feel that Hendricken is their true rival.  Most today at LSA don’t understand the EP-LSA history, nor do many young students or fans at EP.  Traditionalists hope that the EP-LSA turkey day game can make it to the 100-year mark which would be in 2029. Maybe an extravaganza held at Pierce Stadium?

BOVI’s Town Tavern
Another cherished holiday tradition gone by is the loss of the iconic Bovi’s at East Providence’s six-corners.  As informal reunions were held all over EP, none were better than the gatherings at Bovi’s.  Wednesday nights before Thanksgiving were and still are a popular party night, and Townie and Ram fans would pack Bovi’s to celebrate the big game.  Most attending were Townies, but a good many were from La Salle.  Bovi’s owner, John Bovi, was a LSA grad but warmly greeted fans from both schools. Rock bands played, drinks were plentiful and Townie-Ram war stories were swapped with predictions of the next morning game.  For football fans, Bovi’s was the place to be Thanksgiving week. Many would return to Bovi’s by 6 AM Thanksgiving morning for “breakfast” and then head to the game.  Most games were standing room only and you had to arrive by 8:30 am for the 10:00 start time if you wanted a good seat. Pierce was often known to house nearly 10,000 spectators during the rivalry’s glory days.

An Edgy Rivalry?  The game wasn’t always the friendliest as the rivalry reached an intense peak through the early 2000’s.  At the end of the game in 1971 there was a brawl between the two teams. It involved players, coaches and fans who left the stands to join the fray. Extra East Providence police were called in and bedlam ensued for a while.  A Friday nigh hockey game between the two schools was postponed until Monday afternoon at 3 PM.  EP and LSA were hockey powers during that era.  At one EP football rally during the '80's, a LaSalle banner was introduced during one of the Townie football rallies and was not treated too nicely. It seems like an overzealous Townie “procured” the banner from La Salle the day before. The culprit has never been identified! The EP school administration returned the banner to La Salle with apologies (wink, wink included).

A Passage in Time:
As Rhode Island’s oldest Thanksgiving Day football rivalry hangs on by a thread, other notable EP icons are gone.  Long time EP and LaSalle football coaches, Bill Stringfellow and Jim Deffley have died.  John Bovi has passed and his former iconic Bovi’s Tavern was sold and razed.  It sits sadly as an empty lot now. The former East Providence High School has been knocked down, and a new state-of-the-art campus with its own gleaming sports stadium has opened. The new EPHS is a positive for the city and represents hope that the city’s promising student-athletes will “stay home” and not opt for a private school. One thing won't change.  A lot of turkey will be consumed and the wonderful aroma of turkey, all the fixings and pies will still be in the air.