Anonymous wrote:The only thing that sucks about Thanksgiving is the food

I've hated the food since I was a kid, but now we have so many alternate options and sides I enjoy it. I have a very small family but for me, Thanksgiving is so fun because we celebrate with friends too. Usually have the neighbors over after dinner too. Xmas people usually stay with family but Thanksgiving is much more flexible. Also, no gifts.

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is your favorite holiday when your mom or a favorite relative hosts and puts out an amazing spread in their cozy home filled with extended family. It’s so nice to gather together at the same place each year and spend an entire day and evening catching up, eating good food, and having fun.

It’s not the same if you don’t have that. In fact, it can be depressing.

If it gets depressing or too stressful, then use the long weekend to travel.

We do not get together with extended family, but my home is cozy (small) and filled with love. My young adult sons are helping with food this year, and everyone pitches in, so I'm not carrying the burden alone.

We have a great day, starting with a grazing breakfast, the parade, dog show, appetizers, football, dinner, and then board games with dessert.

Friday is usually a brunch spread of leftovers, lazily reading books in our pajamas. I have no idea how this got started, it just happened naturally. A fire is going if it's cool enough. Christmas lights are hung Friday afternoon. But I don't bring out the tree until everyone leaves on Sunday, so I can do a good clean up first.

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Army brat and we were posted to Germany for a long time during the 80s. When we kids left for college in the States, my parents were still over there. We knew we weren't going to be together for Thanksgiving, but would be for Christmas (bc of winter / semester break). So like you, OP, Thanksgiving to this day isn't that important to me. While I enjoy the food, it's just a day. Christmas is magical to me and a whole season to enjoy with family.

Also Christmas in Germany is 10x better than here.

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing people who like it are not driving 6 hours or so with the rest of the east coast

That sounds miserable.

Anonymous wrote:It's not my favorite holiday but I do like it. The expectations are minimal- I show up somewhere, eat food, drink wine and watch football. That's a pretty great day.

That's so great for you. Leech.

We’re hosting again this year. DH hates traveling to see his family more than cleaning the house and cooking. So, it’ll be 21 guests for us.

I’m good with it. I don’t mind the cooking. The food is good besides the turkey and turkey is on par with chicken for me. Combine it with something else and it’s fine.

We have lots of fun and I love seeing the nieces and nephews. We’re lucky that there’s little drama.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is your favorite holiday when your mom or a favorite relative hosts and puts out an amazing spread in their cozy home filled with extended family. It’s so nice to gather together at the same place each year and spend an entire day and evening catching up, eating good food, and having fun.

It’s not the same if you don’t have that. In fact, it can be depressing.

If it gets depressing or too stressful, then use the long weekend to travel.

This. One of our friends hosts. We have good food, it is low key, no need to dress up, we just hang out together. But when no one volunteered to host when they were out of town, it felt depressing. The others who usually attended were fine with their nuclear family but we missed being with friends. Unfortunately we were not in a place to host either.

People are WAY too easily depressed these days.

It's not my favorite holiday but I do like it. The expectations are minimal- I show up somewhere, eat food, drink wine and watch football. That's a pretty great day.

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is racist.

So is your mum

Anonymous wrote:When family and friends eat ultra-processed and sugar-full foods, but you are going the opposite way to improve your health, things get quite challenging.

You sound fun

I'm an Army brat and we were posted to Germany for a long time during the 80s. When we kids left for college in the States, my parents were still over there. We knew we weren't going to be together for Thanksgiving, but would be for Christmas (bc of winter / semester break). So like you, OP, Thanksgiving to this day isn't that important to me. While I enjoy the food, it's just a day. Christmas is magical to me and a whole season to enjoy with family.

Anonymous wrote:Thanksgiving is your favorite holiday when your mom or a favorite relative hosts and puts out an amazing spread in their cozy home filled with extended family. It’s so nice to gather together at the same place each year and spend an entire day and evening catching up, eating good food, and having fun.

It’s not the same if you don’t have that. In fact, it can be depressing.

If it gets depressing or too stressful, then use the long weekend to travel.

This. One of our friends hosts. We have good food, it is low key, no need to dress up, we just hang out together. But when no one volunteered to host when they were out of town, it felt depressing. The others who usually attended were fine with their nuclear family but we missed being with friends. Unfortunately we were not in a place to host either.

Thanksgiving is your favorite holiday when your mom or a favorite relative hosts and puts out an amazing spread in their cozy home filled with extended family. It’s so nice to gather together at the same place each year and spend an entire day and evening catching up, eating good food, and having fun.

It’s not the same if you don’t have that. In fact, it can be depressing.

If it gets depressing or too stressful, then use the long weekend to travel.

I love Thanksgiving - family and food. Another family member hosts so it’s a low lift in terms of prep for me, and I really enjoy spending time with my extended family and also the amazing food.

It’s nice, but don’t love it as much when we do thanksgiving at my DHs family because I miss seeing my family and honestly the food is not as good.

Not having to get presents, honestly