# Who Is Doing Non-Traditional Thanksgiving This Year? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841 "2016-11-23T21:33:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/1 "2016-11-23T21:33:59Z")
Because I’m in retail now and I work tomorrow (4pm to midnight shift) we’re doing our holiday thing today. And by “holiday” I mean I have a genuine day off (no work for money, no chores, just complete goofing off) and someone else is doing the cooking. So, yeah - no turkey, and we’re having take-out tonight because the spouse has been having health problems and doesn’t feel up to going out. We’re having Mediterranean tonight. I’m going to get too much take-out and we’ll probably be eating leftovers for at least a couple days to get that over-stuffed and leftovers effect. Just as well we didn’t try to visit my sister in Buffalo - travel is crap today, the weather sucks for travel, Buffalo got snow (which is a bit like saying “water is wet” come November), and between her being a doctor and me being in retail neither of us was going to be off that day anyway, most likely. Anyone else doing something not traditional? Alternate day? Alternate menu? Nothing at all? What? ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/2 "2016-11-23T22:07:53Z")
Due to kids’ work schedules, our traditional Thanksgiving shifts to catch the closest intersection of their day(s) off. Weirdly enough, they both have Thursday off this week. So we’re having Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day. For us, this is “non-traditional”. 🙂 Years ago, we started barbecuing our turkey on the grill. We now cook it this way exclusively, both for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Since none of us like football, our Thanksgiving will be a little unusual. Barbecued turkey and Netflix for us. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/3 "2016-11-24T01:14:03Z")
I came down with a cold and am staying home alone while my wife is at her brothers house with her dad in update NY. I may cook some chicken tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/4 "2016-11-24T01:25:49Z")
My kids work retail as well … so we’re doing dinner here on Saturday … GO BEAVERS … ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/5 "2016-11-24T01:36:03Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > GO BEAVERS Best damn post I’ve ever read on this board! 🆒 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/6 "2016-11-24T01:42:23Z")
Because both of my sisters work tomorrow my extended family got together last Sunday. We had twenty three people! Tons of food and it nearly all got eaten. Tomorrow, after church, there is a dinner for folks who, for one reason or another, don’t have another gathering to attend. My mom will go to church with me and we’ll eat the dinner. I’m taking dressing, a loaf of bread, and a squash pie. The meat is provided, the rest is potluck. I’ve never availed myself of this before, but I’m looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/7 "2016-11-24T01:55:44Z")
Me! I live alone and I’m working from home for a half day tomorrow. I think I’ll make salmon for dinner tomorrow night. Almost all of my friends here are either working, busy with family, or out of town. I’ve learned not to be a 5th wheel and I decline all the invitations I get. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/8 "2016-11-24T02:52:30Z")
We’re going fishing in the Outer Banks until Sunday. No meal prep, no regrets!!! ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/9 "2016-11-24T03:09:05Z")
Most of my family is off in other directions, so my aunt, uncle, and I are just going out to eat at a restaurant. The holidays are kinda crappy since my mom passed away five years ago – she was the hub of all the family festivities and we just don’t do big holiday gatherings anymore without her here. She died five years ago this past Tuesday, so the anniversary of her death falling right around Thanksgiving every year makes this holiday extra hard for me. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/10 "2016-11-24T03:20:37Z")
I work 2-9 tomorrow and the wife is out of town visiting relatives so -------- my celebration is going to be me. I am doing some steak for lunch/early dinner with mushrooms and a garlic sauce and cooking it over hardwood out back. I’ve always wanted to do something like this, quiet and by myself, and I will greatly enjoy being able to. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/11 "2016-11-24T03:36:50Z")
Going to the local casino for brunch and a steak house for dinner. Though I couldn’t get dinner reservations till after seven PM. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/12 "2016-11-24T04:39:09Z")
We can’t have leftovers this year, so I’m making bacon-wrapped filets mignon, creamed spinach with feta, and baked potatoes. Escargots for starters. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/13 "2016-11-24T05:42:15Z")
Not sure if this counts as non-traditional, but we’re having 5 or 6 Chinese families with kids on the autism spectrum over (we are in that “club” as well). We do a turkey (thank you Alton Brown), my daughter made a batch of cranberry jam last year and we will open the last jar tomorrow, a couple of batches of rosemary butter rolls, and plenty of booze. That’s about the limit of the traditional part. We will make lamb shishkabobs Xinjiang style (think Gobi desert) on the grill as well . More importantly, there will be a ton of authentic Chinese pot luck dishes from many different parts of China. At best, the turkey will be just one among at least half a dozen if not a dozen main courses. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/14 "2016-11-24T13:04:50Z")
My husband is 800 miles away - he went to help his parents with some legal issues and he won’t be home till tomorrow night. My mom lives just over 100 miles away and I didn’t want to drive all that way just for a meal (and lots of noise - my side of the family is LOUD!!!) So I will spend the day with a pug, 2 cats, and whatever I decide to thaw - maybe I’ll steam some shrimp. The closest to tradition I’ll come is baking a couple of pumpkin pies - it’s my sweetie’s favorite treat, so I’ll bake them today and they’ll have all night to chill in the fridge. He prefers his pie cold. I was invited to dine with a friend, but I decided I just wanted to veg alone. Me and Netflix and the critters. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/15 "2016-11-24T13:15:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > We can’t have leftovers this year, so I’m making bacon-wrapped filets mignon, creamed spinach with feta, and baked potatoes. Escargots for starters. I’d like to come to your house!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/16 "2016-11-24T14:11:46Z")
Well, we’re vegan, so by definition ours is non-traditional. In past years we’ve gone to a local animal sanctuary where a big spread if veggies is laid out for the live turkeys (and other critters), and the humans sit down to a feast afterwards. But this year we’re doing a potluck gathering with friends and then on Saturday meeting the nonvegan relatives at a vegan restaurant they really enjoyed in a previous family gathering. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/17 "2016-11-24T14:20:45Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Going to the local casino for brunch and a steak house for dinner. We actually tried the local casino one year; the line was so totally silly long we bailed and went home and made some canned soup. It was like EVERYONE in the tri-state area had the same idea. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/18 "2016-11-24T14:33:13Z")
Being near home is pretty non-traditional for me. I believe I’ve spent Thanksgiving in ten different countries, and I was usually unaware that it was Thanksgiving at the time. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/19 "2016-11-24T16:07:15Z")
Grilled Bandersnatch, Romulan Ale, and Lembas on board the Death Star Mk III. I’ll be wearing a fez and a bow tie. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841/20 "2016-11-24T16:24:37Z")
In a huge break with tradition, I’m making edgy collard greens with eggplant (both homegrown), garlic, onions, turkey broth and red cayenne pepper. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-doing-non-traditional-thanksgiving-this-year/772841.md?page=2)