Tell me about Thanksgiving

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi over there from over here in the UK

Whilst I understand the principles and traditions around Thanksgiving, I'd love to understand a little more as to how you really celebrate it.

Can you tell me what you do, why and how?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Thanksgiving is a holiday in which we give thanks. Usually my FIL or my husband will say a prayer before we eat. After our traditional meal we always go around the table and tell what or whom we are thankful for that year.

Then we go to my MIL's church to look at the harvest table that she prepared for her church. She spends weeks selecting the perfect gourds, pumpkins and corn shocks. It is absolutely beautiful. The local paper usually does an article on her harvest table.

We go for a walk around my IL's farm and the children feed the cows.

Then all the ladies do the dishes and the men watch football until it is time to eat again.

Lori

 

[KathyFP]

Here is a great website.

Thanksgiving

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

BUMP

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Well, I was a little overwhelmed by the huge number of replies, but thanks to Lori and Kathy for some very interesting information.

Hope you had a great time.

 

[moinab]

I'm guessing you didn't get many replies because most people do basically the same thing: get together with family and friends for a large dinner, usually roast turkey, potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, and various autumn vegetables, and say a blessing to give thanks. Many of us also watch football, either in person at local high school games, or NFL on TV.

This year, DH and I didn't have any plans, as he lost his job a month ago, preventing us from travelling to be with family. On Thanksgiving morning, I was taking some cans to the recycling bin when I saw my neighbor across the street in her driveway. She asked about our plans. When I replied that we didn't have any, she insisted we (DH, DS-3, DD-9 months, and I) join her family at her mother's house. There were approximately 25 people there in this tiny house. They had several card tables set up in a row, from the kitchen into the living room. The children had a wonderful time playing, and we had a wonderful time socializing with people we barely knew. Our neighbor's mom said a beautiful, heartfelt blessing, and we enjoyed a delicious meal. After dinner, we socialized and watched football for a couple of hours. We felt very blessed and thankful for these new friends who so warmly welcomed us into their family.

 

[Octoberbride03]

If you had posted this the week b4 thanksgiving, you'd have gotten a ton more responses quicker I bet. Thanksgiving is really a time for us to go be with our families(if we can) and most of us try to stay as long as possible if we're traveling a bit of a distance. DH and I visited my parents 4 hours away and stayed through the weekend. We basically had some nice meals,and caught up with each other. And here the day after thanksgiving is a major shopping day so a lot of ppl do that. Dh and I did it on a smaller sacle avoiding the real stores and just going in a few on the boardwalk(my parents live at the beach now), saving the real outlets for staurday. We also hit church and celebrated the season. It was nice to spend a few days with my family, especially since i won't see them again till Christmas.


Maureen
(Alright!! who stole my castle????? )

 

[minniecarousel]

Sorry I didn't see this before Mrs. Dazzle - with a week away from work (I work in a school) my routine is messed up & I'm not "on the boards" as much as usual. I'm not sure if you want to know what my family's traditions are or what the holiday itself is about. The link that Kathy gave you probably tells you about the holiday in general. Personally, it means sitting down for a huge dinner with my entire family, and sometimes include friends. All of my siblings - exept one - lives nearby. We all get together at my house, including the brother and his family from Louisiana. To us, it's actually a bigger deal to get together on Thanksgiving than at Christmas. It also "kicks off" the Christmas holiday season.

 

[Pebblszzz]

Thanksgiving, in my house, is:

- a time for reflection on the year(s) gone by
- an opportunity to show thanks for all our blessings
- a gathering of friends and family
- Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, home baked bread, etc.
- an excuse to eat and cook way too much food, and an excuse for all the "guys" to watch football in the living room (generally forbidden)

I usually wind up inviting anyone I know or meet who has nowhere to go. Friends who can't afford to travel, new people at work with no family nearby, and any other lost souls!!!

This year, it was me, my new room mate, my husband (soon to be "ex"), a very dear friend who recently moved to this area and her two adorable rugrats.

 

[jx3smom]

DH usually always has to work so DS and I get up and clean and stuff the "bird". We put it in the oven and the 3 boys and I go to the local HS game. Two of my boys played for the team in the past and the other will soon play (1 year, yet). The game is over around 12:30 pm and we go home and set up for dinner. DH gets home around 4 and his family arrives soon after. This year none of my family was there but we had 11 for dinner. I did see my dad at the game, he collects tickets. He also stopped over after eating at my brothers.