Do you have to be American to have thanksgiving?

2

Replies

  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    It's an excuse to hang out with friends, sip wine, enjoy great food, and count your blessings. Enjoy. :drinker:
  • iluvprettyshoes
    iluvprettyshoes Posts: 605 Member
    That was very sweet of them to invite you! I would definitely say ok to go. Thanksgiving now is a time to be reminded how much we do have to be thankful for. We take so much for granted and it's a time to remember that and give thanks for all our blessings.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Best Fourth of July party I ever attended was on a RAF base.

    That is one of the funniest things I ever heard! That isn't illegal in the UK??? :wink:
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    Thanksgiving is a harvest feast. There's probably something similar to it on a wiccan calendar. I say 'go with it'!
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    So i'm British. My best friend married a girl from Mahwah, NJ and they both live here in the UK.

    They have kindly invited my Wife and I to Thanksgiving dinner and we've excepted because its nice to be considered such close friends that they'd like to celebrate with us. The problem (or not really a problem) for me is that I recognise Thanksgiving as an American celebration with friends and family to give thanks to their forefathers. Its also a celebration of the end of Harvest which for us was ages ago.. I have plenty to be thankful for including these friends but it doesnt stop me from feeling slightly out of place?!

    What does thanksgiving mean to you? do you think you have to be American/Canadian to really celebrate thanksgiving?

    You definitely don't have to be American or Canadian. Actually, in the U.S. the first Thanksgiving dinner was celebrated long before we even became a nation. It was a feast celebrating and giving thanks to God for a bountiful harvest following a harsh winter that many settlers of that time did not survive. Today we celebrate and give thanks for all that we have been given...and not just material possessions. It's good for everyone, no matter your citizenship, to take time to celebrate and be thankful for what you have been given.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    Best Fourth of July party I ever attended was on a RAF base.

    That is one of the funniest things I ever heard! That isn't illegal in the UK??? :wink:

    You have never seen so many pale people fail at softball lol.
  • EatClean_WashUrNuts
    EatClean_WashUrNuts Posts: 1,590 Member
    Thanksgiving is an AMERICAN tradition adopted by many countries. If you want to be specific, yes. you need to be an American....As my British grandmother, ironically born on the 4th of July, would always say... "Let's get together for some damn yankee food."
  • JSheehy1965
    JSheehy1965 Posts: 404
    I'm a Brit, married to an American. And I LOVE Thanksgiving. To me, it's one of the best holidays. Family getting together, no presents and a great dinner and a time to reflect on what one is thankful for. I think it's a great tradition, and I'm glad you're getting to experience it. Enjoy!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Just to give you an idea of a typical Thanksgiving for me:

    Last year was my first time ever hosting since we stayed home instead of traveling to family and I don't live near anyone anymore. I invited all my local friends who had nowhere to go.

    We had turkey, alcohol, cornbread casserole, creamed onions (first time ever and so much different than I expected and SO GOOD!), rolls, sweet potatoes ... Basically a lot of food.

    So, we hung out for a while while the food cooked, ate, talked, drank and played some board games and laughed a lot. And then people took leftovers home and I cleaned up the next day.
  • rgrange
    rgrange Posts: 236 Member
    Yes, you have to be American. You absolutely cannot partake in family meals of turkey and delicious sides at any time if you are not American.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Of course not. Thanksgiving also means celebrating with your family/friends and being thankful for all that you have. And of course enjoying yummy food!
  • jesswait
    jesswait Posts: 218 Member
    To me personally, Thanksgiving means getting up early in the morning and visiting my in-laws and bringing food, then driving to another town to visit my Grandmother and Sister's Family. I would much rather just visit them and have a potluck whenever we feel like instead of both on a specific day when there is more traffic.

    I do not personally like any 'commercialized obligation days' I don't celebrate Valentine's day, Easter or Christmas I'm working on Thanksgiving too but my in-laws won't budge much. (But my husband has started booking our anniversary trips so that we are out of town on Christmas and it gives them no choice.)

    I guess it's neat for kids, but I just don't see the point. I love my family and I visit them when I feel like it. I can't stand all the commercials or nearly every store asking for 'donations' all during Nov and Dec so they can use your money to help with tax write offs. I'm not jaded or bitter, I just don't like being manipulated by corporations and advertising.

    If you want have a nice meal with your family, then you should any time you feel like it. Call it whatever you wish. :)
  • BlueInkDot
    BlueInkDot Posts: 702 Member
    Thanksgiving is a holiday to take a step back and take a look at your life. All of the things in your life that are stressing you out or are frustrating you... how important are they? And especially, how important are they in comparison to your friends, your family, your loved ones, your health, and all of the joys that you get to experience in life? Thanksgiving is a time to look at your life and understand that you are blessed, and the little things don't matter. So let's enjoy the blessings we have and be thankful for them.

    I don't care where your from, but if you can appreciate that sentiment, then Happy Thanksgiving. :smile:
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    I am English, but moved to the States 20 years ago. I have no problems with celebrating American holidays!

    Thanksgiving is a very ingrained part of American culture. They probably miss their family and friends, and want to keep their traditions going. It is good that you are going to eat with them!
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    Best Fourth of July party I ever attended was on a RAF base.

    That is one of the funniest things I ever heard! That isn't illegal in the UK??? :wink:

    You have never seen so many pale people fail at softball lol.

    Hahahahaha! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • MrsPong
    MrsPong Posts: 580 Member
    It's time off work to travel home (we live out of state) and enjoy family time. :)
  • fleur_de_lis19
    fleur_de_lis19 Posts: 926 Member
    Its just an excuse to get fat... so since we are all fat here, i think we all have been celebrating Thanksgiving, no matter where we are from
  • ErinBeth7
    ErinBeth7 Posts: 1,625 Member
    I would. Really, we don't really put much emphasis on our forefathers on Thanksgiving. It is more or less a day to celebrate what you have and MORE importantly the people in your life. Most of the time it's very lighthearted and spent with those closest to you. It's not much about history anymore.
  • Crookey21
    Crookey21 Posts: 311 Member
    you dont have to be. enjoy the day and the food!!
  • andreanicole686
    andreanicole686 Posts: 406 Member
    The girl from NJ is probably excited to be sharing this American tradition with her UK friends. Just let her do her thing and enjoy it!

    Exactly.

    People celebrate other holidays that they aren't culturally attached to-cinco de mayo, St. Patrick's Day etc.
    Go, eat and have fun!
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    Nah! It's just food and friends and family. Be thankful for your life. That knows no nationality. :happy:
  • Queen_Adrock
    Queen_Adrock Posts: 130 Member
    Being thankful for your friends, family, and good health are reasons enough for Thanksgiving. I'm an American living in Canada, so I celebrate twice each year...this year, I'm inviting a bunch of ex-pat Americans out to dinner, along with my Canadian family/friends. It doesn't take much to get them out...just the promise of turkey is enough.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    no more then you need to be french to enjoy Bastille Day.

    Oui, Oui!
  • JanaCanada
    JanaCanada Posts: 917 Member
    I'm an American living in Canada. I get TWO Thanksgivings. YAY me! :laugh:
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    For me its 90% about time with family and catching up. Taking time out of our busy life to just sit and talk and be together. Thats it plain and simple.

    The other 10% is the food. I didnt get to 250+lbs bc I love jogging :)
  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    We are imigrants to the U.S...mind you next year willb e 40 years..but we embrace Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks to God for all that we have..a time to be thankful for family..and of course..eating..

    we didnt start having Turkey till I was 22..up until then..we always had lamb biriyani..us "american" kids revolted..and demanded turkey..LOL
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    If I was supposed to be giving thanks to my fore fathers all these years, that was lost on me. Oops.

    I think of the hoilday as time to spend with family, sharing food and just taking a moment to focus on what you are thankful for and appreciative of in your life.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I think modern Americans think of it either as a day to eat, watch American football, and have the day off from work OR...a day be thankful for all your blessings in life.
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
    People come to the US and celebrate customs from their home country, don't see why Americans can't do the same. It could be fun, and turkey is delicious.
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    As an american, I consider thanksgiving a day to celebrate all we have to be thankful for, I have never focused on the beginning since most of that is legend that has grown up around a simple event way back when. (I also have a lot of American indian in my background.) We should always take a pause to examine both our lives and all the ways we can be thankful and be sure that others have something to be thankful for. Celebrate and be thankful for such wonderful friends.
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