To be annoyed by Thanksgiving in the UK?

[talomon]

Is it me or Thanksgiving is becoming quite widespread in the UK?

I studied in the states and live in central London, so maybe I am exposed to American people more than most, but I still feel many of my Brit and French friends and acquittances have started hosting Thanksgiving and treating it like a major holiday. Ten years ago it was quite obscure.

I mean I get that it's a nice occasion, and the food spread looks nice especially for social media, but still I am not sure I like it.

YANBU = Our culture is becoming to Americanized
YABU = It's a great holiday to celebrate

Don't know anyone that celebrates it here who isn't American.

I don't know anyone who celebrates it either.

Other than Black Friday sales it doesn’t affect me.

Don't know anyone who does it. I think you're in a bit of a bubble there OP. I used to live in the US and must say I enjoyed it as a holiday - a get together without gifts was rather nice I thought.

I agree but it started longer ago. About 15 years ago I was in a cafe in central London and was surprised they had this absolutely enormous thanksgiving spread and special thanksgiving boxes to sell. It wasn't run by Americans.

I don't know anyone who celebrates it.
I do see black Friday touted around which I think is extra weird in the UK.
I also lived in the state's for a while & live in London now. In fact, DD was born in America. I liked thanks giving when we were there, but it seems irrelevant here.

At university we used to have a meal for thanksgiving. It was just a group of friends having a roast dinner. It was very cheesy, but nice.

I don’t know anyone that celebrates it that’s not got an American link.

The only people I’ve seen mention it are American, so I’m not voting because neither are valid.

The only reason I think I’m aware of it is social media meaning I see US content, but it’s not something I’ve seen anyone in the UK actually mark whatsoever.

I've never met anyone in the UK who celebrates it either. Can't imagine anyone would in the UK unless they're American themselves. I know it's in November (is it the 3rd Thursday?) but that's all I know. Never seen any ads for it either, the only seasonal ads I've seen have been for Christmas or the World Cup (beers/takeaways etc).

Maybe it brings them joy? Makes it easier to schedule time in, stop and pause?

I lived in the states for a while and often think I'd like to use it make the sweet potato and marshmallow dish I was served. Just seems like the perfect time to make it and meet family. Never get round to it because I am too busy.

I think it's a really lovely festival but it's a bit odd when it turns up here as a kind of rootless transplant without any context. I would say it's probably due to a couple of generations influenced by Friends imo. I don't know anyone who actually celebrates it regularly but people mention it a lot and one younger friend in a houseshare said they were having a meal for Thanksgiving this year.

Nope, not a thing. A veiled attempt at a thread to bash anything American, yawn.

I don’t know anyone who celebrates it. Slightly mystified why you’d want a celebration at the end of November where you invite all your family around and eat turkey.

Harvest Festival is much better.

It’s just basically Harvest Festival isn’t it? I’ve heard some celebrations at churches and schools called Harvest Thanksgiving (but in October usually near the Harvest Moon, obviously). But if people are actually celebrating American Harvest in the UK, and they’ve no USA connection, that’s just weird.

I celebrate it. I am not American and have no connection to or reason for celebrating other than- I personally take up any and every excuse to feast and get around a big table to enjoy time with my family. It's also a good trial run for Christmas. But I can't see why people hosting a meal and having a fun evening in dreary November would annoy anyone tbh.

I don't know anyone who isn't American who does it.

Even if they do, after years of missing out on joy due to the pandemic, I can't begrudge anyone celebrating or having fun. Good for them.

YABU - but because its passed me by completely and I didn't know when it even was

I don't know anyone that celebrates it and I live in a city.

I don't really know the history of it though? Does it make sense for the UK to celebrate it? Or is it like France doing bonfire night?...which obvs doesn't make sense.

Anyone I know who has celebrated it, here, as someone American in their family and doing it for them.

I think the origins are quite sketchy and have no connection to America so wouldn’t celebrate it.

But I haven’t seen on any social media anyone celebrating without a connection to America.

I don’t think your poll options really translate into real life, I don’t know a single non American in the UK who celebrates thanksgiving, and haven’t seen any of that on social media either.

Im the same as many others, I don’t know anyone who celebrates it apart from an American link

dd and her friends did thanksgiving last year but that was because they had an American friend

Haven't seen anything this year. Normally my American neighbour puts window decorations up but not even seen that!

I don't know anyone who celebrates thanksgiving.

I don't know anyone who celebrates it. Not even my American friend.