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Most likely my favorite holiday. And my longest stretch of time off work. I think this year is the first year in a long time we are not going anywhere, at least as of now.

Traditionally, we don't do the typical Thanksgiving dinner. We do a brunch instead, just graze all morning. Got some last minute outdoor garden/flower tasks to finish up provided I don't get it done this weekend.

Feel free to share your turkey day activities.

the-real-steve wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 6:14 am Most likely my favorite holiday. And my longest stretch of time off work. I think this year is the first year in a long time we are not going anywhere, at least as of now.

Traditionally, we don't do the typical Thanksgiving dinner. We do a brunch instead, just graze all morning. Got some last minute outdoor garden/flower tasks to finish up provided I don't get it done this weekend.

Feel free to share your turkey day activities.

We haven't set any traditions. Last year we accepted a standing yearly invite that the elder's family in our church extends to anyone and everyone. This year, my wife invited her family, mother, father, siblings, aunts, uncle, cousin. It'll be a full house. Many of them haven't met our 4.5-month-old yet.

The usual, whole family comes for a lunch of turkey, mashed potatoes, baked creamed corn, green beans with bacon, cake and pudding. The afternoon is spent playing games.

We will travel to my oldest sister's home in DE- and all 4 of us sisters and husbands will get together. None of our children will join us. So that tradition has been established since my mother died in 2019. The usual turkey, dressing, rutabagas, creamed onions, green beans almandine and then I try to change up the sweet potato dish every year. Also chocolate pudding pie, pumpkin pie and instead of apple I'll bring a cherry pie and we always put real whipped cream on the pies. I also bring a real mincemeat pie to my one brother in law as he likes it but none of the others do and of course there is one for us- my mother in law gave me the recipe before we were married. So mostly tradition but a few changes.

Every other year we travel to my parents home in GA over Thanksgiving, this year we celebrate at home. We have been inviting people who can't easily return the favor, housing challenged, single room renters ECT. Some we know from church and some we meet in the street. It will be exciting to see who takes up the invitation.

It’s a family season we like to call it. Thanksgiving and Christmas we have all kinds of family over to the house. It becomes a happy blur of visiting and eating. This year we have a new grandson to add to the fun. Turkey is served at T-day and Christmas it’s ham. The sides always include cranberries and potatoes. Family brings the rest or makes it in our kitchen.

On Thanksgiving and Christmas each year, we invite various internationals and other folks to our house who don't have anyone to spend the day with or aren't in position to host a meal in their apartments. Then we choose another time to go visit our families.

This tradition is our way of applying these teachings from scripture.

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:34

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a or banquet or reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14