# When Do Americans Eat Thanksgiving Dinner? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062 "2002-11-22T01:03:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/41 "2002-11-22T19:50:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rodd Hill \* > \*\*When do most Americans (or perhaps I should ask “most Dopers”) sit down for the big Dinde-fest? I know that the Thursday is the actual day of Thanksgiving, but is it a travel day, with the feast on Sunday, or vice-versa? There was a case in the news a few years back about a woman who got mixed up and served Thanksgiving dinner a week early. She did get the Thursday part right though. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/42 "2002-11-22T19:54:32Z")
Well, thisyear it’ll be 4:00 Thursday at the SO’s mom’s house, and Saturday (probably around 2:00 at my folks house, since that’s in Iowa and it would be a difficult trip to try and do it in one day. We’ve been a little casual about it because of various jobs that sometimes required working on T-day, so it’s not a bid deal if it’s not “traditional.” ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/43 "2002-11-22T20:06:21Z")
My first thought when I saw the thread title was “Who is buried in Grant’s tomb?” In America, you eat Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving because, well, it’s Thanksgiving. 🙂 Then it occurred to me that you might be asking about time of day, because that does get debated a lot. In my family, we eat Thanksgiving dinner at dinnertime, around 6:00 p.m., but I’ve occasionally been to other homes where the meal was earlier. We don’t celebrate Christmas, but my mom has been known to make a turkey for dinner on Dec. 25, just because they’re so heavily promoted at that time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/44 "2002-11-22T20:35:24Z")
Anyone else have trouble getting used to their S.O.'s family traditions? In my family, it’s dinner at 4:00. Every year. In my husband’s, it’s noon. Every year. Part of the joy of Thanksgiving has always been anticipating everyone’s arrival, and especially anticipating the food-- smelling all the cooking going on, helping decorate the table, all leisurely and drawn-out. At Pat’s, it’s a mad scramble to get everyone and everything ready, then everyone stuffs themselves and sits around. I can’t get used to it. A lot of people around here take off the whole week of Thanksgiving, to spread out the travel. The parking lot at work this morning was only half-full, if that. ---
**Author:** ![fatmac98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@fatmac98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fatmac98)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/45 "2002-11-22T21:32:44Z")
I would starve before I would eat Thanksgiving dinner on any day but Thursday. It’s just dinner on any other day. ---
**Author:** ![Sparrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sparrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparrow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/46 "2002-11-22T22:42:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by booklover \* > \*\*I guess my family’s a little offbeat, but for us Christmas dinner is not as big a deal as Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving’s all about The Dinner: turkey and the works. Christmas has always been a potluck/buffet affair with no formalized sit-down dinner–I’ve been veggie for a long time but I think the meat portion usually includes ham, turkey and whatever else people bring. \*\* It’s the opposite way round for us, cos we don’t have Thanksgiving. Christmas is the day when you eat till you can’t stand up. Nearly always turkey, roast potatoes, chipolatas (little tiny sausages), brussels sprouts, tons of other veggs, bread sauce, gravy… Then of course Christmas pudding with cream or brandy sauce. Is there a traditional American Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert? ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/47 "2002-11-22T22:48:48Z")
… and you give thanks for … what? (not a sarcastic comment, just an ignoramus being curious) ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/48 "2002-11-22T23:00:46Z")
Well, traditionally (in the sense that when Thanksgiving became a part of American culture), thanks is given to God for basically whatever there is to give thanks for. The bounty of the harvest, the successful hunt, the illness overcome, the fact that everyone is together and alive, etc. etc. These days it depends on the family. In my family, we do give thanks to God; we’ll hold hands around the table before we eat and each person will say one thing that they’re grateful for (could be for having such a great family [cuz they really are], or for support during a difficult time, or for being able to be there after travelling a long way, whatever). I’ve been a guest at other families where the thanks is expressed to other people there for the things they’ve done to make life better for whoever’s at the dinner. In my husband’s family (see above), the “thanks” part is pretty much set aside in favor of eating lots of food and being around the rest of the family-- it’s a time to eat and watch football or see a movie together. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/49 "2002-11-22T23:04:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there a traditional American Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert The traditional American Thanksgiving dessert is **pie**! (Mmmm…pie!) Specifically pumpkin pie, also sometimes mincemeat pie or pecan pie. My uncle makes his special lemon merengue pie every year, but that’s more of a family tradition. Two desserts traditionally associate with Christmas are Christmas cookies (sugar cookies with Christmas-themed decorations) and of course fruitcake, which has become a national joke, although some families do still eat it. ---
**Author:** ![Stellablue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@Stellablue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stellablue)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/50 "2002-11-22T23:08:02Z")
One of the biggest problems with eating at the in-laws is that they don’t serve the meal at Halftime! I grew up thinking that was the reason for having a break in the game. My Grandma would poke her head in the den and ask if it was halftime yet about 6 times before Grandpa would give the OK to eat. I loved bonding with all the male members of the family as they explained the big game to me. ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/51 "2002-11-22T23:09:21Z")
Then I shall give thanks to you, **Beadalin** , for your reply; but I’d better do it now, coz I won’t be doping on Thursday! ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/52 "2002-11-22T23:14:39Z")
Hey, now, **SpoilerVirgin** , _real_ fruit cake is absolutely divine! Now if all that comes to mind is that disgusting brick with horrid candied “fruit”, then I’ll agree that’s a joke. But my mom makes the most wonderful fruitcake imaginable (it’s actually Emeril LaGasse’s recipe, but damn good), using dried fruits (cherries, blueberries, cranberries, orange peel, etc) mascerated in hot water, nuts, a yellow cake batter, and is positively _soaked_ in Grand Marnier and Bourbon. If you try _this_ kind of fruit cake, mmmmmmmmmm! ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/53 "2002-11-22T23:38:34Z")
We usually eat our Thanksgiving feast around between 2 and 4 pm on Thanksgiving Day… depending on how long everything takes to get ready… if somebody is late coming in ect. We have the Turkey, a ham and cornbread dressing with chicken in it, cranberry sauce of some kind, and a wide assortment of vegetables with several pies for dessert. Pretty typical southern style Thanksgiving dinner I think. Then we sit around and talk, watch the game on TV and that night we usually all go out to a movie together. ---
**Author:** ![GKW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@GKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GKW)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/54 "2002-11-23T00:08:12Z")
Holiday dining… mmmmm… it’s so much work to make but it’s such a nice feeling to have the whole family sitting down in one place, all generations. At our house, Thanksgiving dinner would take place after the church service, around 1:00. Pumpkin pie was served for dessert. My mother always claimed that mincemeat was really bunyip meat from Australia- we _never_ ate it! A walk in the woods after dinner was required. I can’t imagine eating a big meal in the evening and having no time to work it off. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/55 "2002-11-23T01:15:53Z")
You know, you don’t _have_ to wait for me to ask if there’s “still a General Question here” to let an answered topic die. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/56 "2002-11-23T03:17:26Z")
I kinda figured it would die off after T-day. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/57 "2002-11-23T04:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sparrow \* > \*\*As a Brit I’ve always wanted to know the answer to this. You have turkey at Thanksgiving, yes? So what do you have for Christmas? Not turkey again? \*\* Mr. tlw and I have tofurkey for Thanksgiving and portobello mushroom casserole for Christmas. It’s fun planning meals for the holidays when you’re vegetarians. 😛 Growing up, though, we always had a standing rib roast for Christmas, reserving the ham for Easter. My husband’s family had pheasant or goose at Christmas, since his father was a hunter. They ate whatever he brought home. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sparrow \* > **Is there a traditional American Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert?** For us: Thanksgiving = pumpkin and sweet potato pies Christmas = the big huge dessert blowout, including more pumpkin and sweet potato pies, apple pie, an incredible number and variety of cookies and a recipe that came down from my great-great-great grandmother, an applesauce spice cake with raisins and walnuts. That’s saved and eaten at the very very end of Christmas night, warm with whipped cream, with all the lights and camped in front of the twinkling tree. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/58 "2002-11-23T04:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*my mom has been known to make a turkey for dinner on Dec. 25, just because they’re so heavily promoted at that time of year. \*\* Wow-MY Mom makes a turkey to celebrate “the day that we all have off from work for no clear reason since we’re Jewish”-wonder if they’re related?😉 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/59 "2002-11-23T05:31:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by psychobunny \* > \*\*Wow-MY Mom makes a turkey to celebrate “the day that we all have off from work for no clear reason since we’re Jewish”-wonder if they’re related?😉 \*\* I guess we’ll find out if we both show up at the same Thanksgiving dinner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062/60 "2002-11-23T05:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sparrow \* > \*\*As a Brit I’ve always wanted to know the answer to this. You have turkey at Thanksgiving, yes? So what do you have for Christmas? Not turkey again? \*\* Why not turkey again? It’s a month later! It might seem crazy, but we have turkey at least 4-5 times a year for non-holidays too. Anyway, I’d like to have ham at Christmas, but Dad hates it so we usually do have turkey for Christmas, or perhaps pork roast. Christmas dinner isn’t a big deal…but the deserts are:D [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-americans-eat-thanksgiving-dinner/138062.md?page=4)