AIBU to think my American neighbour is taking this too far?

[MelaniaLovesLemon]

She’s already invited us to Thanksgiving (yes, in September) and has given me a little to-do list...
Bring a casserole, make miniature turkeys out of whole walnuts(?), and have something prepared to say about what we’re thankful for, and I need to bring my own chair. She’s quirky, loud and brash with a weird husband, and has a habit of turning up unannounced with crazy schemes.

Recently she came for an aperitif in our cute garden, and practically inhaled the entire tin of prawn cocktail Pringles that I was saving for my DS and then simply helped herself to another glass of wine without asking, apparently she wants that wine for the dinner?

Another time she invited me round at 9am to taste test three different types of stuffing, for the Thanksgiving. I could not possibly eat all that at 9am!

I don’t know if I’m being rude thinking this is all a bit much?

Swap American with a different nationality. And watch the pile on from the professional progressives on MN about how OP is xenophobic, racist, fascist.

But if it’s American, no problem.

Measuring out exact ML of wine for guests and shaming them for wanting more! And on 1 inch of pringles Pp.

I live in the US. Yes, people do both Thanksgiving and Christmas but the menu is different. Christmas can be anything depending on your background (and there are people who make a big deal of Christmas Eve as they are Catholic). Turkey is much less common for Christmas. My Italian friends do a big seafood dinner for Christmas Eve, and then another big meal on Christmas Day itself, this time with meat.

I would say that being asked in advance, especially in the UK where the turkey needs to be ordered, and asked to bring a side is normal. I have not done the walnut turkeys in 15 years here. There are some items that are almost jokes. The people who love the canned jellied cranberry are devoted to it and the people who despise it are just as vocal. Ditto the marshmallow sweet potato casserole and the green bean casserole with tinned soup, neither of which I make. (I do make all 3 of these things from scratch and not en casserole and the American guests have approved.)

Also, when it comes to roasts, gravy is gravy, minus Bisto. It's the breakfast sausage gravy that's different.

If you leave a tin of Pringles out they'll get eaten, that's simple logic.

Same, our family is American and British and Jewish and Christian and we do all the festivals!

Sidenote this thread is really just making me excited for Thanksgiving. I'm thinking sweet potato pie, and maybe also pecan or apple pie...

You do realize the country is full of immigrants, for a variety of reasons, that celebrate their culture and traditions and that OP has been graciously invited to celebrate her neighbour's tradition? It isn't more complicated than that and certainly doesn't sound nefarious or aggressive. It's just a meal designed to being friends and family together. Shock. Horror. 🙄

But could you wear a home made turkey hat? 🦃😀

@Britinme 😁
ie

littlebinsforlittlehands.com/turkey-hat-craft/

Those turkey hats are practically mandatory at preschool Thanksgiving celebrations!

My middle aged friends remember when it was Pilgrim hats and Indian feathers. That's not done so much nowadays. You do find some people who won't celebrate Thanksgiving because of the genocide of indigenous people, but it's a very minority point of view, the trend in liberal areas is more to pull it away from the story of the Pilgrims. I do think in Canada, where their Thanksgiving is in October, that's a bit more common.

Let’s be friends! My husband isn’t Jewish so we celebrate Christmas and Easter with him too. We go all out for holidays, love the chaos :)

I assumed it was shelled walnuts and likewise some sort of miniature carving was required. Now I’ve seen the pics I’ve realised I had that I’m totally wrong. And slightly disappointed.

By the way any kind of pie is acceptable on Thanksgiving. I adore chocolate, so I make French silk (basically chocolate mousse in a pie shell) as well as apple and pumpkin and it's always a hit.

She sounds perfectly beastly. These Yanks!

Yes, we save up for it and spend the same on the Christmas meal. I put money away through the year for the festive season. So it’s not a big shock. We just do gifts for the children and don’t over do it which makes it more affordable.

Yes, coming up Oct 13, I believe.
🇨🇦
I just bought a pumpkin pie at Costco yesterday as a practice run. 😂

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(Canada)

I'll take your place , I've always wanted to go to a thanksgiving dinner 🤣

😂

I've pretty much been waiting for something like that ever since I hit post and re-read it

Yesss these are the type I have somewhere in my basement. I'm going to dig them out for my Thanksgiving table.

Thanks for replying, makes sense to spread it out as December would be a very expensive month otherwise!

OP she is clearly having a joke.

I sense you maybe aren’t a jokey person so your neighbour just isn’t your cup of tea perhaps?

I think she sounds quite fun. Taste testing stuffing?! Don’t think I’ve even heard of this being done. Sounds quite random. Random but entertaining.

Loosen up a bit. Or if you can’t don’t go, so you don’t ruin her thanks giving. It’s a special celebration for them, it’s nice she invited you. You sound a bit ungrateful.

Yes you’re being unreasonable re wine and Pringles.

I hope we’re not going to start referring to these celebrations/gatherings as “holidays”. It’s not an invitation to go to Benidorm together

Of course it's a holiday, that's the original meaning.

I'd go if I get some pumpkin pie out of it, I love pumpkin pie! 🥧 I made one for Halloween last year. 😋

So many miserable responses!
She is being friendly, maybe a bit overpowering in an American way, but still friendly.
Go and enjoy yourself !

Sounds appalling. Why do Americans abroad always insist on imposing their nonsense on everyone around them?
Particularly tone deaf as their Predident can't seem to stop slagging our country off.
Tell her no thank you.

You sound fun at parties. Would you like another slice of pie?