Do you observe Thanksgiving?

[The Firebird]

I think this is a regional thing. There are parts of the US where saying a bad word about Thanksgiving will get a teacher a very stern conversation with school administrators and possibly a full-fledged freakout by school board members.

It could be. I think its as much generational. My hometown was both rural and not on the bleeding edge of cultural awareness in that way. But Lies My Teacher Told Me came out before I was born and was pretty well incorporated into the curriculum by the time I encountered it.

 

[briggart]

Thanksgiving it's not a thing where I'm from. But my birthday is at the end of November, so when I was living in the US I used to have friends over for a mixed birthday/Thanksgiving party.

 

[trappedslider]

For context: We don’t have any illusions about European colonialism- our ancestors include Africans, Choctaw, Taino, Peruvians and others. But- like Christmas- we like to use the holiday to see old friends and bond with family over food. 20-30 guests is typical.

Yours is once place I'd worried about getting banned from due to reading about your cooking skills and the menu

 

[gnarlygninja]

It could be. I think its as much generational. My hometown was both rural and not on the bleeding edge of cultural awareness in that way. But Lies My Teacher Told Me came out before I was born and was pretty well incorporated into the curriculum by the time I encountered it.

My 5th grade teacher was forced to apologize to our class and I think got into serious trouble behind the scenes for saying Christopher Columbus is not viewed very well outside the US, and being critical of Thanksgiving. I don't remember what he said about it but it was very mild. This would have been around 2000.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

American Thanksgiving, Canadian Thanksgiving, or other Thanksgiving?

Yeah, it's become my favorite holiday. It's a chance to power down, share a good meal, and reflect.

We're mostly traditional US Thanksgiving menu: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing (Stove Top!), cranberry sauce (must be canned gel), corn on the cob, balsamic brussels sprouts, rolls, apple pie. We exclude the traditional sweet potatoes (double yuck), pumpkin pie (yuck), and green bean casserole (boring).

 

[dragoner]

I’m an American, and my family observes Thanksgiving.

For context: We don’t have any illusions about European colonialism- our ancestors include Africans, Choctaw, Taino, Peruvians and others. But- like Christmas- we like to use the holiday to see old friends and bond with family over food. 20-30 guests is typical.

Most years, we host for both, and I’m the main cook. I typically prepare a turkey and as many as 5 hot sides, and we buy a couple of things as well. (And all are encouraged to bring food to share and take some when they leave, but it’s a time for me to show off. )

This year is a little different. For Thanksgiving, we’re hosting a small get-together at a Brazilian churrascaria, and Christmas may be hosted at my paternal aunt’s house. If I’m not hosting, my holiday cooking will be VERY limited this year.

My (non-exhaustive) arsenal of dishes offered over the past decade has included:

Steamed Turkey on bed of veggies (onions, carrots, onions, celery, etc.)
Mirliton (chayote) squash
Macque Choux (corn or green beans)
Greens (mustard, collard or turnips)
Roasted Yukon gold potatoes
Roasted tomatoes
Glazed ham (based on my deceased maternal aunt’s recipe)
Gumbo
Meatloaf
Beef stew (modified from Hungarian goulash)
Boiled Shrimp
Steamed mini corn on the cob
Dressing (Oyster, Hot sausage & mushroom, Beef & mushroom or Chicken gizzard & mushroom)
Pie Blitz (cherry, apple, or peach)

(Some pictures & recipes available on request.)

Yum, sign me up. I lived in the UK for a bit and moved back, and my British girlfriend came with, we went to a Thanksgiving party and she was like "This is American food? You should eat like this all the time!"

 

[Morrus]

We're mostly traditional US Thanksgiving menu: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing (Stove Top!), cranberry sauce (must be canned gel), corn on the cob, balsamic brussels sprouts, rolls, apple pie. We exclude the traditional sweet potatoes (double yuck), pumpkin pie (yuck), and green bean casserole (boring).

GIven that you all have Christmas dinner on Thanksgiving, what do you have for dinner on Christmas day, if not Christmas dinner? I can't imagine Christmas day without the full turkey and all trimmings. It just wouldn't be Christmas!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

GIven that you all have Christmas dinner on Thanksgiving, what do you have for dinner on Christmas day, if not Christmas dinner? I can't imagine Christmas day without the full turkey and all trimmings. It just wouldn't be Christmas!

Christmas is traditional in our house: Chinese takeout and a movie.

 

[Morrus]

Christmas is traditional in our house: Chinese takeout and a movie.

Chinese takeaway? Wow! I can't think of anything less Christmassy!

You say that's traditional? Sometimes I think I know Americans, and then sometimes I discover I have the most enormous gaps in my knowledge about their culture.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Chinese takeaway? Wow! I can't think of anything less Christmassy!

You say that's traditional? Sometimes I think I know Americans, and then sometimes I discover I have the most enormous gaps in my knowledge about their culture.

Well, for urban folks.

It started off with Jewish Americans, looking for something that was open to do on Christmas, which turned out to be Chinese restaurants (we have more of them in the US than we do McDonald's) and going to the movies.

But it's such a good idea once kids aren't little and tearing into presents any more that it's become more and more popular among large portions of the population. I wouldn't say it's the dominant way to celebrate Christmas, but I see a lot of people getting Chinese takeout on Dec. 25, when I'm standing in line for my twice-cooked pork.