Thanksgiving tradition

[Joe Paul]

Well, can't believe Thanksgiving is here again already. We will have dinner, then start decorating inside the house for Christmas. We play Christmas music, put up the tree and do whatever our heart desires so far as a "theme". This year, Christmas light up night is this Friday, so I have started the outside decorations, yesterday. Just wondering if anyone else has such a Thankgiving tradition?

[Falkenbach]

Although I've asked on other predominantly-American forums before, and have been told, I still forget - what IS thanksgiving? We don't celebrate it in Australia.

Do you get a public holiday for thanksgiving? That's the most important part lol

[glitter]

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada

Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes facetiously referred to as "Turkey Day"). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. Often guests bring food items or help with cooking in the kitchen as part of a communal meal.

In keeping with the holiday theme of giving thanks, during the socializing or meal, people talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.

The Thanksgiving holiday was established as a national day of giving thanks and praise to God. The religious heritage of Thanksgiving continues in the tradition of saying grace at the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

The Thanksgiving season is also a time of generosity. People contribute food to annual Thanksgiving food drives and donate to charities


In the United States, Thanksgiving Day, always a Thursday, is part of four day long weekend which usually marks a pause in school and college calendars. Many workers (78% in 2007) are given both Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays, and others with leave benefits are allowed to take a vacation day. After Thanksgiving Day, the day after is known as the unofficial holiday of Black Friday, the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season, and often, its busiest single day. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 A.M.) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores

[boxman55]

Nice job, Glitter. I could add that for at least 90% of the people I know it is the most favorite of all holidays...Boxman

[Joe Paul]

Looks like I am the only one who decorates on Thanksgiving.

[okarol]

We start decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Our family tradition is to take our Christmas Card photo on Thanksgiving Day, because we are all together dressed nice and it makes a nice group picture.
Before Jenna got sick I would mail the photo in Christmas cards, but it's been a while since I did it. Maybe this will be the year to begin again!

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada

Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes facetiously referred to as "Turkey Day"). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. Often guests bring food items or help with cooking in the kitchen as part of a communal meal.

In keeping with the holiday theme of giving thanks, during the socializing or meal, people talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.

The Thanksgiving holiday was established as a national day of giving thanks and praise to God. The religious heritage of Thanksgiving continues in the tradition of saying grace at the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

The Thanksgiving season is also a time of generosity. People contribute food to annual Thanksgiving food drives and donate to charities


In the United States, Thanksgiving Day, always a Thursday, is part of four day long weekend which usually marks a pause in school and college calendars. Many workers (78% in 2007) are given both Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays, and others with leave benefits are allowed to take a vacation day. After Thanksgiving Day, the day after is known as the unofficial holiday of Black Friday, the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season, and often, its busiest single day. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 A.M.) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores

Thank you Glitter I've always wondered what exactly happens at Thanksgiving. It's nice that a whole nation still has some spiritual values and the ability to reflect on lifes blessings. Here in Britain many parts of society seem to me to be totally materialistic selfish and hedonistic. The equivalent of thanksgiving here would probably be a F*** you holiday!

[thegrammalady]

my dad's sister used to work in a pharmacy/gift shop and throughout the year sent all kinds of goodies. when i was a child we always had chocolate covered marshmallow turkeys at each place on the dinner table. now i don't have a formal diningroom or dining set like my parents or grandparents so if i cook thanksgiving dinner we usually have a buffet. but if i do set a table i HAVE TO HAVE marshmallow turkeys at each place and i HATE marshmallow! and that goes for the chocolate santas at christmas too.

[paris]

I love traditions!   We take our family picture every Thanksgiving Day.  We decorate for Christmas over the following weekend.

But my personal favorite tradition is the cooking.  I love being up early Thanksgiving morning making my Grandmother's stuffing and thinking that all across America, women are in there pajamas fixing the turkey. For decades, the same routine--I am doing the same thing my Mother did, her Mother before her, etc.  It is kind of a sisterhood and while I am sauteeing the celery and onions, I will be thinking of all the holidays past and those who I miss.  I use my Grandmother's china (which no one wants to wash for fear of breaking).  I love the recipes that make the day special; Mom's Waldorf salad, my childhood friend's pumpkin roll, brocolli and rice casserole that my husband has made for 30 years, Grandma's stuffing and the most cherished childhood recipe of all-------------cranberry sauce from the can!!!     My house smells so good today. I am getting all the do-ahead dishes today.  Can you smell the pumpkin and pecan pies?  The fresh apple cake?  The sun is shining, it is 75 outside, windows are open and with a light breeze the leaves are gently falling.  I am in a festive mood.  I still need to do cleaning---that will shoot the festive mood!

Wishing all of you wonderful holiday traditions; decades old or new this year.   And I will say a special "thank you blessing" for all of you tomorrow.  I am grateful to be a part of IHD.

[Joe Paul]

I love traditions!   We take our family picture every Thanksgiving Day.  We decorate for Christmas over the following weekend.

But my personal favorite tradition is the cooking.  I love being up early Thanksgiving morning making my Grandmother's stuffing and thinking that all across America, women are in there pajamas fixing the turkey. For decades, the same routine--I am doing the same thing my Mother did, her Mother before her, etc.  It is kind of a sisterhood and while I am sauteeing the celery and onions, I will be thinking of all the holidays past and those who I miss.  I use my Grandmother's china (which no one wants to wash for fear of breaking).  I love the recipes that make the day special; Mom's Waldorf salad, my childhood friend's pumpkin roll, brocolli and rice casserole that my husband has made for 30 years, Grandma's stuffing and the most cherished childhood recipe of all-------------cranberry sauce from the can!!!     My house smells so good today. I am getting all the do-ahead dishes today.  Can you smell the pumpkin and pecan pies?  The fresh apple cake?  The sun is shining, it is 75 outside, windows are open and with a light breeze the leaves are gently falling.  I am in a festive mood.  I still need to do cleaning---that will shoot the festive mood!

Wishing all of you wonderful holiday traditions; decades old or new this year.   And I will say a special "thank you blessing" for all of you tomorrow.  I am grateful to be a part of IHD.

I wondered where all that yummy smell was coming from    Another tradition I forgot to mention is the lighting of candles at the dinner table for those who have passed on.

[ODAT]

Our usual tradition is to spend the day together with just my husband and two sons. We get together before or after for dinner with hubby's niece and her in-laws. We spend Christmas together with my family. So we wake up, get dressed, take a walk through the neighborhood and toss the football around (ok, I TRY to toss the football lol). Get home, make eggs, put the turkey in, and make a pecan, sweet potato, or apple pie. This year we are breaking tradition and going to my husband's niece's in-laws. We really enjoy their company. My mom left today to spend a few days with my younger sister in Albion, NY. It takes her about 30 min to get there. Not bad but the weather is pretty dismal.

I am with Joe Paul on decorating for Christmas on Thanksgiving! We have a small Christmas tree that you put an ornament on a day Dec 1 through 24. We wait about two weeks before to get our tree.

paris, you're story is so beautiful! I want to spend the holiday at your house! It also makes me feel guilty because I don't do anything but the pies. I had to chuckle though with the fear of breaking grandmother's china - could that just be an excuse to get out of washing or do they volunteer to wash the pots and pans? I wish I had something that special to cherish. I'm sure your grandmother knows when you are using them because there are so many thoughts of her.

[kitkatz]

I guess we are the Scrooge family at Thanksgiving.  We have started to go out for the Thanksgiving meal.  No one wants to cook or clean it up at their house! So tomorrow two o'clock we are going to meet at Carrows and have whatever Carrows is serving for Thanksgiving dinner.  This has become our new tradition since the girls moved out of the house.

[paddbear0000]

Growing up, Thanksgiving meant my mother cooking a big, traditional dinner and it included my mom, dad, sister, me and my grandparents. But now that my dad and grandfather are gone, and my sister and I are both married and out of the house, it's changed drastically. Now, my mother and her boyfriend go to his son's, my sister and her husband go to his grandmother's, my grandmother (who is getting too old to travel) goes to a friend's and My husband and I go to his family's. I miss our old Thanksgiving.

[kellyt]

We'll get the tree out over the weekend.  Can't wait!   

[brenda]

Because this area is very Mormon based we have a lot of Americans here. They all get together and have Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I think that's nice for them cause they get two Thanksgivings.

[Falkenbach]

Thanks for all the great explanations 

[okarol]

 

[galvo]

A very happy Thanksgiving to all of you in America!!

[kristina]

Thanks for the great explanation, Glitter.
I wish all of you in America a very happy Thanksgiving!
Best wishes from Kristina.

[willowtreewren]

And for those of you who are not in the USA, take a moment tomorrow to consider all the things for which you are thankful. For me....

I am thankful for the dialysis machine that sits in my den keeping my husband alive and well.

Aleta

[peleroja]

My only tradition is to watch whatever marathon is on tv.  It all started with Twilight Zone.

[Poppylicious]

So, Thanksgiving is just like Christmas but without the materialistic commercialism and decorations?   It sounds lovely. 

Here in Britain many parts of society seem to me to be totally materialistic selfish and hedonistic. The equivalent of thanksgiving here would probably be a F*** you holiday!

*chuckles* ... but probably true, sadly.

And in keeping with Aleta's idea of being thankful for something even though I'm not American so don't really have to be (  ), I'm thankful that I still have my husband cosying up to me in bed every night.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US of A!

[Darthvadar]

Wishing all my US friends peace, joy, health, and happiness at Thanksgiving, and always...

Things to be thankful for... My mum still being with me... Last Christmas Eve, I was planning her funeral!... Today was a very god day at the hospital... They're very pleased with how she's doing... She's even gained weight!... The blood tests will tell how things are, but as of now, it's all good!....

Darth....

[dwcrawford]

These family holiday memories and tradition are really nice.  Once upon a time  I too could write you of fun and food and friends for Thanksgiving.  I miss it more than I can express.  Keep in mind that other’s around you maybe be in a similar situation and invite somebody over  for at least a pickle sandwich.  Once my tradition was to start the Christmas trees.  I’d put them up on Wednesday night and bring out boxes of ornaments after dinner on Thursday and have guest put them on.  Friends are coming over on the weekend for cocktails and tree decorating but I’ll probably have much of it done by it being a few days after thanksgiving.  Friends, and there aren’t many, mostly go to their inlaws  on holidays.  I hate that.  Used to have thanksgiving day with my brother’s wife’s brother.  Hehe…  but brother and family are scattered now.  This sucks.

I’m having lots of recurring thoughts about one year ago.  Some of you will recall two days before Thanksgiving I was told I had to do dialysis or else.  I opted, at that time,  for else but obviously changed my mind when the day came.  Often wonder if that was the right decision.  The point is I’d  already invited people for dinner.  I didn’t want to tell anyone so I had to entertain friends and other drunks all the while worrying about what I’d do with all the Christmas stuff since I didn’t plan to be around another year.

Christmas will be different.  I’ve already committed to the clean up crew at a Houson Food Bank traditional dinner for homeless, etc.  They wouldn’t let me cook or even serve.  Clean up!  At least I’ll be out of the house.  They did say I could help with the kids gift distributions but those are little snotty nosed rugrats.

Not to worry anyone as by morning I’ll be over all this self pity.  At that Iime I’ll just “pity the fool”.tha

It’s not easy being old, sick or green.

[looneytunes]

Thanksgiving at our farm has been a family tradition since my hubby was born.  His grandfather owned this farm and then his parents and now us.  All our kids, grandkiddos, siblings and their families come here.  I'll cook the turkey and ham, mashed potatos and (renal friendly) gravy, hot rolls, deviled eggs, pumpkin pies, banana pudding.  Others bring the dressing, vegetable dishes, and lots of deserts.  Today I did all the do ahead stuff (and got my house cleaned too!) and the kids will be here this evening with the grandkids.  There'll be up to about 30 of us.  It's always a lot of fun.  We invite friends and single folks who have no close family to come and join in.  Dan, if you lived close, you could join us here. 

Two years ago, on the day after Thanksgiving we learned hubby had ESRD through an emergency room visit.  I am so thankful he is still here and able to enjoy the holiday.  And I'm thankful I found this IHD site and for all that I have learned from you folks. 

Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to all the IHD gang.