to be jealous that Americans get Thanksgiving AND Christmas?

[FeuDeRussie]

Thanksgiving sounds really good. Like Christmas, but no presents to worry about (AFAIK?), just FOOD!

Are there any Americans around who can tell me what Thanksgiving is like? Do you prefer it to Christmas?

[whyohwhy000]

LadyBeagle Some people have turkey, others have beef, chicken etc.

[oldlaundbooth]

Fuck it, zombie thread

[oldlaundbooth]

If they was to be a British Thanksgiving, then when would it be? Which date? And what are you giving thanks actually for?

[JustGettingStarted]

Americans get their fireworks in July, when it's warm and you can enjoy them.

[Andylion]

This thread is 4 years old.

Why do I never check? There were no zombie alerts by the time I posted.

[Noofly]

Zombie thread. Oh well, it is Thanksgiving. I used to be American so we are having a compromise dinner with peanut and chili prawns and pumpkin pie for dessert.

[HerRoyalNotness]

Oh and half the neighbourhood has had their xmas decs up for a week already. My theory is they get the guys in to put them up to beat the rush after thanksgiving. Lots of professional light putter uppers here, and it does look lovely, even with lack of snow and cold

[XmasFoodJunkie]

Oops zombie thread still applies though

[XmasFoodJunkie]

I travelled the States a long long time ago. For Thanksgiving, we didn't want to be left out so me and a friend (also from the UK) made our own Turkey roast - with all the trimmings. I even found a British supermarket that sold Stuffing and Bread Sauce And then we came home just before Xmas so we basically had what felt like Xmas twice

You can take the girl out of England but you absolutely cannot take England out of the girl

[HerRoyalNotness]

I just realised partway it's an Old thread, however I bring you good news, twinkies are still on the shelves. I believe they disappeared for awhile, but are firmly back.

[Temporaryname137]

Thanksgiving zombies

[Andylion]

But they do have ...the wilds of Canada on the doorstep.

[Andylion]

It means that Christmas decorations don't go up in the shops until December which is a good thing. Until then they have kind of Autumny displays.

I was in NYC two weeks ago and some store had their Christmas displays up already

[Mynestisfullofempty]

Re American gravy, isn't it very thick and off-white rather than brown and thinner and made with the meat juices as in the UK?

[BiddyPop]

OK, it's an old thread.

But in fairness, today is actually Thanksgiving Day!

So we should be thankful to MagentaRose for dredging it up - so we can see the differences between the USA of between the Obama presidencies, and the USA with the incoming Trump Presidency, and with the benefit of 4 more years having changed a lot here on the European side of the Atlantic too....

[Mynestisfullofempty]

Why did you dredge up this thread from 2012 MagentaRose72?

[ElizabethHoney]

I used to live in a UK city with quite few US citizens as temporary residents. This year is the first year in ages that I haven't been invited to a 4th July party...

But I'm going to thanksgiving meal tonight, with all non-Americans! Christian thing, so an excuse for a celebration focused on being thankful rather than on Pilgrim Fathers etc

I think it's lovely having a celebration that focuses on thankfulness and doesn't involve present giving, but it's bad planning to have it so close to Christmas! ;)

[BiddyPop]

We are having our THanksgiving dinner tonight as normal - a turkey breast, roast potatoes, stuffing, veggies. (I have green beans as part of veg, but no pumpkin - unless DH wants soup defrosted, or sweetcorn - if we have that, will be from a tin).

But it's an "after a working day" dinner (hence the breast not full bird) and no presents or travelling.

There are swings and roundabouts (or turnpikes!) to each country and what they celebrate. We have different bank holidays than USA, and even to the UK. But its still nice to celebreate it here (I was born in the US although grew up this side of the Atlantic, so it's nice to mark 1 aspect of that side of me - I rarely remember to do 4th July or any of the other important public celebrations, but the idea of "giving thanks" resonates with me anyway - we also have a rememberance and thanks type little family ceremony on Christmas Eve which has evolved from Irish and family traditions).

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

But to compensate they have little to no employment rights, no statutory maternal pay and a lower minimum wage.

[msrisotto]

This thread is 4 years old.

[Keletubbie]

I love Thanksgiving more than Christmas.

My dad is American and part of a big ex Air Force ex pat community here in the UK.

Tonight my mum's living room will be packed with all of my favourite people. Because it's not usually celebrated here, there's no obligation to be anywhere else so we're all actually together. It's spawned its own traditions - everyone brings a gift for my mum, the head chef, and we all wear our loudest pyjamas.

We'll feast on turkey, roast ham, brisket, greens, black eyed peas, green bean casserole, yams, roasties, pigs in blankets (we're half English too!), mac and cheese... followed by pecan, sweet potato and pumpkin pies.

I am sat at work counting down the minutes til I can get stuck in. And see my lovely siblings. Plus I can start Christmas tomorrow!!!

[MagentaRose72]

I like the concept of actually giving thanks for the good things in our lives as it's proven that those who have gratitude are more happy people.

However, as I'm the only one who hosts the elderly and infirm relatives I'm pretty thankful that we only have ONE day to shop and plan for!!

I did a painting to show my friends and customers how much I appreciate them- and that's it - a big dose of gratitude from me! And I'm making lists for Christmas haha!

[lljkk]

That is complete misrepresentation, ShadyLane. I say that as a Not-Very-Proud-Of-It descendent of very many of those genocidal religious zealots.
But Thanksgiving is a lot more complicated than what you wrote.

Bit like saying that Guy Fawkes Night is a celebration of the Death Penalty and oppression of Catholics and Freedom of Religion.

[CheerfulYank]

Well, it sort of is if you do the whole Pilgrims and Natives thing. But most people don't anymore, it's just a day to gather together and eat and give thanks for the blessings in your life. Bit like Halloween is just a day to dress up and get candy, not Samhain or whatever.

[shadylane]

Thanksgiving is a celebration of colonialisation and genocide. But America and Americans are more interesting than the uk