I do not like Thanksgiving. Why is Thanksgiving your favorite holiday?

[Anonymous]

When people say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday it puzzles me.

Why is Thanksgiving your favorite holiday?

[Anonymous]

Food, family, football, no expectation that I buy gifts for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Food, family, football, no expectation that I buy gifts for anyone.

Pretty much this. The pressure of presents isn't there. We don't travel and only see local family for several hours on Thursday. Otherwise its just a long restful weekend. On Saturday or Sunday we leisurely put up the Christmas decorations and try to get a jump start on online shopping.

[Anonymous]

Why do you care? What does it matter? People like different things. You don’t need to “understand.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care? What does it matter? People like different things. You don’t need to “understand.”

I don't think discouraging people from seeking to understand others is ever a good idea. Back off and let us enjoy the thread!

[Anonymous]

I like Thanksgiving because there are only a few times each year when I have a day totally free to indulge in cooking more complicated dishes that my family wants to eat. It's a slow day, we eat a few decadent things we only eat for the specific holiday, and we slow down enough to focus on why we are thankful for each other.

Now, we have a small nuclear family, and we never travel for Thanksgiving. This might not be possible if we have a big family gathering.

[Anonymous]

No gifts

[Anonymous]

I like the food traditions and the gathering of family and friends. I like that things quiet down that day. I like the day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you care? What does it matter? People like different things. You don’t need to “understand.”

I don't think discouraging people from seeking to understand others is ever a good idea. Back off and let us enjoy the thread!

Op here. Perfectly said PP. I’m genuinely curious to hear what people like about Thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

I don’t like it either, PP, but I understand and don’t begrudge people who do.

I think it’s the big meal that you don’t have the rest of the year. It’s low stakes (as a PP mentioned, there are no gifts involved.) And I think if you have a functioning family, it can be delightful gathering.

[Anonymous]

It’s not. Passover is, because of the food.

[Anonymous]

I'm French. There is no equivalent day in France. I LOVE the concept of a Holiday to give thanks (even though its historic origins are steeped in abuse of native Americans).

I don't like the food served at Thanksgiving. But you give thanks with any food! And any guests!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Food, family, football, no expectation that I buy gifts for anyone.

This. One day of all the stuff but low prep. You don't have to spend hours decorating your house or buying and wrapping gifts. You don't have to think about your calendar and which parties and concerts you could/should attend. You don't have to feel bad that you didn't spend a Saturday afternoon baking and decorating cookies with your children to "make memories." Etc., etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Food, family, football, no expectation that I buy gifts for anyone.

This. One day of all the good stuff but low prep. You don't have to spend hours decorating your house or buying and wrapping gifts. You don't have to think about your calendar and which parties and concerts you could/should attend. You don't have to feel bad that you didn't spend a Saturday afternoon baking and decorating cookies with your children to "make memories." Etc., etc.

[Anonymous]

I like the food and it’s not commercial/materialistic