Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s necessary if you invite someone over and say “Come over for thanksgiving dinner”. If you say “come over on thanksgiving and I’ll have food and drinks” then you can serve what you want. There is a distinction though.

Just tell your guests that you won't be serving a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner but X instead. Let them decide if that is okay with them.

+1

If I were invited to a Thanksgiving dinner I would expect a turkey but would be ok without one. For some people it’s an integral part of Thanksgiving.

No turkey. Any sweet potatoes, pie, anything?

If it’s just my parents and our immediate family we don’t serve turkey because none of us likes it. But if we include extended family or friends, we serve at least turkey breast alongside another protein to stick with tradition and meet expectations.

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s necessary if you invite someone over and say “Come over for thanksgiving dinner”. If you say “come over on thanksgiving and I’ll have food and drinks” then you can serve what you want. There is a distinction though.

Just tell your guests that you won't be serving a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner but X instead. Let them decide if that is okay with them.

I think it’s necessary if you invite someone over and say “Come over for thanksgiving dinner”. If you say “come over on thanksgiving and I’ll have food and drinks” then you can serve what you want. There is a distinction though.

Turkey not necessary. Enjoy the day - that’s necessary.

I hate turkey. If you serve something else, I will be delighted. If you stand by the traditional repast, I will grin and bear it.

I agree with the other poster that Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what we have. The original Thanksgiving had no wheat flour and no dairy, and therefore no pies, and went heavy on the fish and seafood.

Also, some Indians died.

So... serve what you want, OP.

You should let them know.

Yes you should have turkey on Thanksgiving. It would be so rude to not serve the traditional meal.

Personally, I think a good piece of salmon would just as good. Fish is somewhat historical for Thanksgiving. Probably not salmon though, but salmon is tastier.

No, because the point of Thanksgiving isn’t turkey, but the giving of thanks. Any food will do for this.

I think thanksgiving dinner has to include turkey, stuffing, and some form of potato to be considered a traditional thanksgiving. It has to have turkey in some form to be called a thanksgiving dinner at all, traditional or not. You can’t invite someone over for “thanksgiving dinner” and serve spaghetti and a side salad. You would call that “dinner”. Just like you can’t invite someone over for pizza and then serve sandwiches

Are you asking if you can not serve a turkey? What’s your reasoning?

People can expect what they want. That doesn’t mean it will happen.

Thanksgiving without a turkey? If you are invited to someone's over Thanksgiving, do you expect to be served turkey? Will the kids miss out on Thanksgiving if there's no turkey?