What are your Thanksgiving Day traditions?
930292
Yes, we also have way too much food. But, every year, I make each member of my families favorite food. We eat and visit and eat some more. Then , every year on Thanksgiving evening, we go to the movies.Dont know why, but, we just do. Every single year
922248
I'll get up at the crack of dawn and put the turkey and dressing in. I'll make the side dishes, with the potatoes being last. I'll set the table, then serve. I'm expecting my daughter, her new husband, his daughter, my best friends Gene and Marie, my g/f's son and her daughter, new husband and new baby(but she has to work), and probably 3-4 of my ex husband's (who now lives in florida) single middle ages friends who no family and no where else to go. Its simply a normal Thanksgiving for me.
715735
We have a lot to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving (aka Dia de Gracias!)\n\nIt shouldn't matter what country you are from or whether Thanksgiving exists in their country.  Every individual and/or family should set aside a day to be grateful for what they were blessed with.  If those that disagree believe they should be grateful for their own ignorance... by all means... give thanks.
950291
We dress nice for every holiday; there is plenty of time to dress down and fewer times now to spend sometime on  yourself and dress nice ; make that holiday a holiday; you can look really nice and comfortable too;  Happy Thanksgiving!
863543
I'm Italian so we tweaked the traditional American Menu so here it is.................\nTURKEY (of course) now to make it interesting my mom de-bones her turkey & stuffs it with a more italian like stuffing of wild rice mushrooms & spinach. Its tender and delicious\n\nMASHED POTATOES this I make with roasted garlic & chives a must have\n\nSTUFFING this is more traditional not actually stuffed into the turkey. \n\nBROCCOLINNI which are a green italian vegetable, very good.\n\nGREEN BEANS another american tradition, but we put our own twist on it with garlic & olive oil, and best thing is these are fresh grown in our own garden!\n\nPASTA our table always has a pasta on it either with a sauce or in the form of a soup. This year we are making gnocci a very yummy potatoe based pasta with a roasted tomato sauce.\n\nCRANBERRY SALAD made with fresh cranberies, pineapple & nuts real good.\n\nSWEET POTATOES in the oven.\n\nPUMPKIN PIE, BLACK BOTTOM BANANA PIE, CHOCOLATE SILK PIE (something for everyone) tons of holiday cookies too!!\n\nCHESTNUTS after dinner & dessert we roast chestnuts and eat them this is a huge family tradition!\n\nThis is Thanksgiving Italian-American Style
926639
Depends on where I'm at, if I'm at my place or my parents' place, or if I'm at my aunt and uncle's place.\n\nAt my uncle's, I think we get there in time to go to Thanksgiving services(my uncle's a Lutheran minister), then on Thanksgiving itself, it's the usual football and feast thing. Although I can't recall if they have the turkey, as it's been quite a few years since we've been there for Thanksgiving. Prayers are said, of course, heh, that's to be expected considering my uncle's profession.\n\nAt my parents' place, there's no going to service. I'm not even sure if the church my parents attend even has one. I think around here, some do, some don't. I think their church may just have the Thanksgiving service the Sunday before. Uncle's church is bigger, probably why they have the service. Parents' church is smaller, maybe that's the difference.\n\nOh well, when I'm at their place, there's no services at any rate. Usually prepare the turkey and feast, the guys of the family watch football or play video games on the computer, and we sometimes watch the parades. Macy's has kinda gone downhill for me since I was a kid, so sometimes we watch at my mom's, sometimes not. Pretty simple. Prayers are said at the meal, as well as saying what we're thankful for.\n\nMy place, there's no services(I'm an atheist). I'm up at 5 or so to get up, dressed, and work on the bird. Hubby-to-be and I aren't fond of football, so we don't watch that. Might watch a parade if any of them are any good, otherwise he flips channels or puts a movie in while I'm working on the food.\n\nFor the feast, no prayers are said(I allow individual people to pray, but I don't do group prayers like at my uncle's or parents'). I tend to put more importance on what we're grateful for than WHO we're thanking. I also tend to pass out and go to sleep once the meal's done. I think Dad and the guys end up watching football.\n\nSometimes we do family games like play cards or dominoes during football or the afternoon when we're not all so stuffed and sleepy.\n\nThanksgiving for us is usually more about the food and family, though the more religious members of my family tend to put the religious angle into it. I don't do that personally. Like I said, I tend to put more focus on family, food, and being grateful that we're even still alive from one year to the next, rather than religion.\n\nGood luck on your report! :)
859497
You mean, the story behind Thanksgiving?\n\nRead below.\n\nIf you're trying to explain it to younger kids, there's a simple-English version of the same page.  I've linked to it as well.
925690
Well I'm the designated Cook since my father died.....so I always stay at home and cook the traditional Feast....I tell my friends and family it's open door at my house on holidays....Everyone is welcome!.....I cook up our family's traditional feast and usually add a new different something Iv been wanting to try out as well.....I usually start cooking/baking Pies/cookies(jello salads.. & prep work) on wed....and theT- bird on Thursday...it's a ton of work specially since I do it all myself now that Dad has passed( we always did it together ever since I was young girl,just us two)....but everyone really apreaciates it!  so it's worth it !! whatever you do, Rember, Thanksgiving really isn't about the food...though try to tell that to the men...lol....it's really about family and good friends getting together and enjoying each others company....and being Thankful for each other..... \nHave a Great day!\nBlessed Be!
856557
MY FAMILY AND THE FACT WE ARE ALL HEALTHY AND ABLE TO SPEND THE DAY TOGETHER\n\nGOOD FOOD , THAT MY HUSBAND HAS A GOOD JOB!!!\n\nMY PETS!!!\n\nTHE FACT THAT I LIVE IN AMERICA AND WE HAVE FREEDOM !!!\n\nFOR OUR SOLDIERS THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM.\n\nGOD BLESS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!
906512
I'd lay down and take it like a turkey because that is my family tradition..  all my fore-turkeys did it and I shall do it too.
31974
Thanksgiving Day is my favorite.  It's a time when family and friends gather in one place for a great meal and conversation.....later to lie back and watch a tv game - football, basketball or hockey are good.\n\nThere is no stress of buying gifts or even of decorating.  It's all about fellowship.
253270
Thanksgiving is my personal favorite because it has that "Ahh, the whole family is here together!" feeling but isn't over-commercialized like Christmas. It also has a great theme that seems to bring out the good in people. Plus, boy do I love turkey! ...and pumkin pie...and turkey sandwich leftovers...YUM!
737115
I've come to realize over the years,that the every day things\nare our greatest blessings,the food on the table,our country, our homes,our family and friends,our health and well-being,the very air we breathe and the sunshine that warms the earth.\n\nAnd it's these things that we should be the most grateful for\nas we celebrate Thanksgiving!\n\nFor they give us comfort and strength,filling our hearts with gladness and making each day meaningful.\nAnd it's my Thanksgiving wish that as my family and friends\ngather to celebrate Thanksgiving that they will remember to be thankful for the simple blessings they receive every day.\n\nWishing you too a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving! :)
743350
As far as I know, Thanksgiving is North American holiday.
735847
wake up about 9, get ready, go to grandmas, watch parade/\nvisit with my cousins while my grandma and aunts cook\npray, then eat about noon.  everyone is done by one ish and then the men sit in the living room to watch football and the woman clean and visit in the kitchen, us grandkids go downstairs and play this game we made up called potato days (we do it every thanksgiving even though my cousins are all around 15 or 16) haha just thinking about it makes me smile : )  we all go home, ushually take a nap or something, then everyone goes over to our house for visiting and wine for the adults in the evening.  its a very nice time.
816990
It was the first Thanksgiving after my husband and I started dating.  He drove three hours to spend the holiday weekend with me so I wanted to impress him with a home cooked meal.  I waited until leaving work Wednesday night to go the the grocery store and in the mad push of people, I reached in the bin and grabbed a turkey.  The next afternoon, I placed my turkey in a sink full of water to thaw and began on my side dishes.  After he arrived and we had a drink, he ventured into the kitchen at which point I noticed he was peering down into the sink and frowning.  I asked if something was wrong with the turkey and he said "Yeah . . . it's a duck."  \n\nTo my horror, I had picked up a duck and never noticed that this long narrow bird was not a fat round turkey.  I attempted to roast it and while it had a nice flavor, we quickly realized there isn't much meat on a duck.  In addition, my gravy was burnt, my potatoes were salty and the macaroni and cheese was a solid block.  I finally accepted defeat and we ventured out to the local 7-Eleven and had a Thanksgiving hot dog!   \n\nI wouldn't have done a thing to prevent it!!  That night my husband told me he loved me for the first time and we have been together for over twelve years.  He turned out to be an incredible cook and  I have never cooked another Thanksgiving dinner!  And every year we toast our famous Thanksgiving duck!
882285
I think it's great that your son is home and you'll all be together for Thanksgiving! Talk about something to be thankful for! I am planning to have Thanksgiving at home with my family. My boyfreind is going to cook because he's the best at it. I think he's planning to make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including mashed potatoes from scratch. My mom made a pumpkin and pecan pie for dessert. I guess my contribution will be cleaning up.