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?

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

I'm a bit jealous too. I'm more jealous of Halloween though, a proper American Halloween looks like a lot of fun. But I wouldn't swop thanksgiving or Halloween for the jubilee and the royal wedding and the like, royal celebrations are much better.

I do recommend Christmas in New York. I did it pre children, and it was awesome.

[FeuDeRussie]

Ugh, god no, they can have all our royal celebrations as far as I'm concerned!

[FeuDeRussie]

Ooh, what did you do for your New York Christmas Outraged? (If you don't mind me asking you a question now I've rubbished your views on the royals.. ;))

[SantyClaws]

yy Thanksgiving was aaaages ago in Canada - long forgotten. I miss Bonfire night but January is made so much better by being able to go skiing every weekend

we get govt healthcare in Canada, less annual leave but more bank hols (one a month, generally) and we get shopping Boxing day too and days in lieu if it all falls over a weekend

i feed canadians Christmas pud and mince pies - most of them have never had either...a travesty

[Tee2072]

Honestly, FP, you need new American friends.

[NettoSpookerstar]

I'm cooking a Thanksgiving meal for DD and I on Sunday.
It's my birthday and this is my treat to myself, as I love to cook.
We aren't celebrating Thanksgiving, but I've always wanted to taste the meal, and given I live in a small Scottish town, the only way to do it is to cook it.
I had to order the tinned pumpkin for the pie on Amazon, it better be here before then.

[FairPhyllis]

Tee Nothing wrong with my friends - it's just that an awful lot of your countrymen apparently rejected gravy along with the yoke of colonial oppression!

I was very surprised actually as normally my friends are real foodies. But apparently the form of Thanksgiving dinner is immutable.

[AppleOgies]

Naaaah I think having something else would be faff... It would make Christmas less Christmasy IMO.

[grovel]

The Algonquin Hotel in New York. The New Yorker magazine vibe.
Partying in Rush Street in Chicago.
The Grand Canyon.
Well-mixed, generous Martinis.

Some of the many things I love in the USA (in case I offended Tee)

[FairPhyllis]

Oh and I'd forgotten about pumpkin pie: V I L E. I will accept apple as a substitute though.

[Tee2072]

The form of Thanksgiving dinner is varied and usually very yummy.

This is why you need new friends. Ones who can actually cook, for example.

[mamaus]

Another American here, have been feeling a bit homesick all day thinking about everyone getting together tomorrow for ridiculous amounts of gravy!!
Seriously, who doesn't have gravy?

[grovel]

Boston Harbour was awash with Bisto in 1773.

[grovel]

Maybe FairPhyllis celebrated Thanksgiving in a dry county?

[TheCrackFox]

No roast potatoes?!!

No gravy?!!

[KitchenandJumble]

Thanksgiving is The Best Holiday Ever. I love it. I really like the sentiment behind it (giving thanks for what we have, even though I'm an atheist). And getting together with family and friends to enjoy a huge feast is amazing. None of the over-commercialization of Xmas, just a day to reflect and relax.

The food is amazing. Provided that the people doing the cooking are competent, of course! Contrary to some claims on this thread, I've never ever seen turkey served without gravy. The sides tend to be potatoes (mashed or roasted), stuffing (yum!), sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, plus green vegetables and salad. Pumpkin pie for dessert (double yum!).

I am always a bit puzzled when people in the U.K. start being rude about American cooking. They often mention some bizarre dish they once heard about, as though that were typical of American meals. It would be like saying that the English can't cook because all you'd ever heard of was beans on toast (a vile combination, if you ask me, shudder, shudder).

[grovel]

TheCrackFox, it may explain why they don't have an obesity problem over there.

[GrrrArghZzzzYaayforall8nights]

I'm American, I do love gravy but I do not do Thanksgiving nor do I miss or or have any desire to do so (though I do miss/have a desire for home gravy). I find it kinda odd to celebrate what is basically a lie to make us happier about our country's origins. I know many Americans who do not celebrate it either because they need to work or use it as a day of mourning/education (November is Indigenous American / First Nations Histories Month). When I did live in the States with my parents I did prefer it to Christmas, because Xmas was a lot more stressful, but now I don't do either and am much happier .

Shavuot is a proper holiday with proper holiday food like cheesecake.

[Nancy66]

is Thanksgiving a bigger deal than Christmas for most Americans?

[juneau]

I'm British and DH is American so we celebrate everything. It's the best of all worlds - we have Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th July, Halloween AND Bonfire Night!

Today I've made pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread and tomorrow I'll be doing turkey (well, it's a chicken actually), sausages, bacon, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggies, etc.

Americans tend to have ham at Christmas - turkey is for Thanksgiving.

[juneau]

is Thanksgiving a bigger deal than Christmas for most Americans?

Well, Thanksgiving is celebrated by everyone of all religions - so yes - its a bigger holiday because it's irrespective of religious affiliation. But IME Americans of a Christian persuasion celebrate both equally enthusiastically!

[crazycanuck]

If you're in Newfoundland you get Thanksgiving AND Bonfire Night! See, us Canadians know how to do these things!

[GrrrArghZzzzYaayforall8nights]

Thanksgiving is not celebrated by everyone and there isn't really much build up to it.

Christmas gets a lot more air time and energy spent on it in media, schools, shopping centers, and by people. All other holidays near it tend to get brought into the media frenzy. Even those of us who don't celebrate it will spend energy on doing something else whereas with Thanksgiving it goes by without much energy at all if you don't.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I always feel kind of about Thanksgiving because of it's origins. I'm not convinced all Americans do feel thankful.

But,I have been on holiday in America over Thanksgiving (and Halloween) and there's no denying that there is a great atmosphere generally speaking.