Thanksgiving USA (2025)

[Morning Glory]

20 days to go!

Now obviously Thanksgiving is specific to the USA and it falls only a few weeks before Christmas. So which is more important to you?

 

[TastyReuben]

20 days to go!

Now obviously Thanksgiving is specific to the USA and it falls only a few weeks before Christmas. So which is more important to you?

I’m not saying this to be funny, but for us (and a whole lot of other people), it’s really seen as one long holiday season, so it’s hard to separate them.

 

[Morning Glory]

I’m not saying this to be funny, but for us (and a whole lot of other people), it’s really seen as one long holiday season, so it’s hard to separate them.

But don't people have to go to work between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Here its clear cut for those that observe Christmas. Its traditionally when family gets together. So families get together at Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Edit: the word holiday here means you don't have to work.

 

[TastyReuben]

But don't people have to go to work between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Here its clear cut for those that observe Christmas. Its traditionally when family gets together. So families get together at Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Edit: the word holiday here means you don't have to work.

Here, “holiday,” and “holiday season” mean two different things.

I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to say that between Thanksgiving and 2 January, while people do have to work, it’s sort of understood that doing the bare minimum is ok, as a sort of unspoken reward for putting up with bullshit all year long (obviously not true for every profession, but for much of corporate America, the last six weeks of the year are a time to ease up a little).

Yes, families do get together for both, of course. I suppose it depends on the family, but that would be the norm, and in between the two holidays are parties and other festive events. MrsT and I, along with a favorite nephew and niece, are going to a Christmas market tomorrow, for example.

 

[Morning Glory]

Here, “holiday,” and “holiday season” mean two different things.

I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to say that between Thanksgiving and 2 January, while people do have to work, it’s sort of understood that doing the bare minimum is ok, as a sort of unspoken reward for putting up with bullshit all year long (obviously not true for every profession, but for much of corporate America, the last six weeks of the year are a time to ease up a little).

Yes, families do get together for both, of course. I suppose it depends on the family, but that would be the norm, and in between the two holidays are parties and other festive events. MrsT and I, along with a favorite nephew and niece, are going to a Christmas market tomorrow, for example.

Its so different outside the USA. Of course there is Christmas in the air, (so to speak) throughout December. But aside from some companies having a Christmas meal or Christmas party, its work as normal until Christmas eve, when if you are lucky you get let off work a bit early. My daughter works a 2pm to 10pm shift and she is hoping to get sent home at 9pm on Christmas Eve. My son will be working the whole shift. He's manager of a toy shop.

Back to Thanksgiving. Is it always turkey on the menu? I happen to love turkey as it has a slight gamey taste if cooked well.

 

[TastyReuben]

Back to Thanksgiving. Is it always turkey on the menu? I happen to love turkey as it has a slight gamey taste if cooked well.

Almost always, yes…and maybe a baked ham.

Turkey here, and we’ve talked about this before, isn’t gamey at all, it’s very bland, at least the supermarket variety. Even fresh turkeys we’ve bought in the past have been…pretty boring. They’re just so mild, they taste of nothing, really.

 

[Morning Glory]

Almost always, yes…and maybe a baked ham.

Turkey here, and we’ve talked about this before, isn’t gamey at all, it’s very bland, at least the supermarket variety. Even fresh turkeys we’ve bought in the past have been…pretty boring. They’re just so mild, they taste of nothing, really.

Sorry. I forgot we discussed it before. Its often bland here too but not entirely so if you get a good turkey.

 

[TastyReuben]

My daughter works a 2pm to 10pm shift and she is hoping to get sent home at 9pm on Christmas Eve. My son will be working the whole shift. He's manager of a toy shop.

Christmas Eve, we’ll get cut loose at noon, most likely.

Retail, like what your son is working, that’s the exception. Retail will likely have to work extra hours…especially a toy shop.

 

[TastyReuben]

Sorry. I forgot we discussed it before. Its often bland here too but not entirely so if you get a good turkey.

No worries, it was a long time ago.

 

[karadekoolaid]

My very first Thanksgiving dinner was in Charlottesville, VA, back in 1973. I was on a London Bach Society tour of the USA, and had an American girlfriend (in London)... her parents invited me and a friend to Thanksgiving!
That was it, until my youngest son moved to Cincinnatti in 2018.

 

[badjak]

No thanksgiving here, except within the American community of course.
Christmas is a bit of a family thing, generally lunch.
I normally just work and give my staff time off. I've never been a big christmas fan.

 

[Gone Hiking]

20 days to go!

Now obviously Thanksgiving is specific to the USA and it falls only a few weeks before Christmas. So which is more important to you?

While Christmas is of course the important day of worship and reverence, now that the kids are grown, I actually enjoy Thanksgiving much more. I don't want to sound heretic, but it's just so much less stressful, even though we're in those years of our life where we always host it. It's just a bunch of friends and family getting together to enjoy a great dinner and to kick back and enjoy each other's company, laugh, play games, and watch TV parades and specials, without all of the lamentation over what gifts to buy for everyone, or feeling obligated to attend Christmas parties and services, and decorate everything to the nines, which are major stresses that I always dread going into Christmas. I hate to say it, but I actually breathe a sigh of relief once Christmas is over.

As far as "holidays" (UK) and "vacation" (US), my company includes Thurs/Fri for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve/Christmas as paid holidays, but I typically use vacation time on the Tues and/or Wed before Thanksgiving to prepare for hosting it, and I usually take the week off in between Christmas and New Years just for some down time. The week after Thanksgiving, I usually take few days off to hunt deer, as well, in my state.