I liked it as a kid but now I always have to help cook and clean and I hate how exhausting it is. The day after Thanksgiving is good - shopping and leftovers.

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

This, minus the football.

I’m not a fan either

I’m with you OP. All that stress and frustration planning just to eat. I like Thanksgiving food, but it’s not worth the production to me.

But I don’t have to host and I don’t have to travel more than 20 minutes so I just sit back and enjoy. If I had to host, I’d probably skip it.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Maybe the monotony of the food is what kills it for me. I’ve always eaten the same things every year - Turkey, Ham, Yams, Greens, Sweet Potato Pie in an endless cycle. Now as an adult, I continue to make these same dishes. Maybe I need to let go of the pressure to have the traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

Small family size. So we don’t travel to gather. No one visits each other so it’s quiet and should be fun I suppose.

Bleh.

Thank you all for sharing. Keep telling me about you all’s Thanksgivings, I am enjoying reading about your reasons.

I think you should change up your menu, then! You could at least go half and half. Pick either turkey or ham, yams or greens. The pick a new protein and a new side that you love. And take a poll of guests to ask them what kind of dessert they'd like to swap for the pie.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Maybe the monotony of the food is what kills it for me. I’ve always eaten the same things every year - Turkey, Ham, Yams, Greens, Sweet Potato Pie in an endless cycle. Now as an adult, I continue to make these same dishes. Maybe I need to let go of the pressure to have the traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

Small family size. So we don’t travel to gather. No one visits each other so it’s quiet and should be fun I suppose.

Bleh.

Thank you all for sharing. Keep telling me about you all’s Thanksgivings, I am enjoying reading about your reasons.

I never have those foods anytime except Thanksgiving. I suppose that indicates that they’re not really great, but I honestly enjoy them.

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

Why is Thanksgiving your favorite holiday?

Pecan pie.

When the kids were younger we lived close enough to both sides if our family that Thanksgiving meant traveling to one set of grandparents house on Wednesday, staying overnight, eating mid day then getting in the car to travel to the other house for an evening dinner. It was a multi state thing for us. Ditto Christmas.

Then we moved over 1000 miles away and for the first time in years we cooked and ate Thanksgiving at our house - that was 9 years ago and over the years we’ve developed traditions in our own house. We let our college kids sleep in and when they get up we turn on football and I serve light snacks. I time the main meal for around 4pm. I serve the usual traditional dishes but also make some less traditional dishes that my family enjoys, usually we keep the football games on while we eat. It’s laid back and relaxed.

Anonymous wrote:

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

This, except we don’t watch football. If we celebrate at home, we watch the NYC parade and the dog show. Big pancake breakfast, then we clean up from that and do an early dinner. It’s my favorite day.

We don’t turn on the tv at all, but we will watch a movie we all agree on. I think it might be best exotic marigold hotel this year to honor Maggie smith.

Leftovers. Everything tastes better the next day and is so easy to put together fast meals with leftovers.

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is racist.

It doesn't have to be, PP. It can truly be a day where you give thanks.
Every country has a discriminatory and violent past, I'm sure you know that. You need to reclaim the day.

Because it’s the day I learned to stand up to myself and not put up with my family’s nonsense and how they treat me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Maybe the monotony of the food is what kills it for me. I’ve always eaten the same things every year - Turkey, Ham, Yams, Greens, Sweet Potato Pie in an endless cycle. Now as an adult, I continue to make these same dishes. Maybe I need to let go of the pressure to have the traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

Small family size. So we don’t travel to gather. No one visits each other so it’s quiet and should be fun I suppose.

Bleh.

Thank you all for sharing. Keep telling me about you all’s Thanksgivings, I am enjoying reading about your reasons.

I'm the French poster from before. I've never felt pressure to cook the traditional meal, since I have no family expectations or traditions. Turkey is so dry and bland and I don't really enjoy pumpkin pie or sweet potatoes. My husband likes roast duck, and we've done a braised lamb as well. And then apple desserts or my favorite, cranberry tart: so pink!

+1 We stayed home in 2020 for the first time in years. Each DC got to request a dish (things like crab cakes or stuffed peppers), plus DH and I added our own favorites. My DCs were in charge of making desserts. It was still traditional in the sense we had stuffing and mashed potatoes, which are my favorites, but there's no requirement for anything
you don't like. Like PPs, I enjoy Thanksgiving because it ends up being a lot of work for a few hours and then lazy for the rest of the day. And it's the start of the holiday season.

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is racist.

So that's why you like it?

Food, family, no gifts and the smell of turkey roasting in the oven.

It’s the first time we all get together after many months of never all being in the same room. And it’s the start of the holiday season feeling. This year my firstborn, a freshmen in college, will be home for the first time since August!!!!

I love Xmas Eve, but by Christmas evening I’m a little depressed.