How to explain Thanksgiving to a British person:

On my blog, I offer a comprehensive guide to Thanksgiving for British people. They don't get it, but this will help:
http://expatclaptrap.com/guide-thanksgiving-british-people/

A great description..well done!!

Great description, other than they missed explaining the concept of purposely making a few days of leftovers, simply because abundance is tradition. In the three years I had Thanksgiving with my in laws while living in the UK, I never could get that concept across. Especially with turkey. They bought a crown, ate off it that one meal, and wanted to feed over half of it to the cats. I went into a swoon, and hubby saved the day by convincing his brother to let me take the rest of it home.

That's a good point about leftovers... I think you're right. It is key.

Yep, cook huge and then spend the next few days enjoying the feast without the work. This year I am cooking for two of us, since we both have to work enough days we are missing my family one, and the 'aunts, uncles and cousins' one. We will have mom and dad up sometime around Thanksgiving to spend time and have a meal. But even with two of us, I am cooking a BUNCH to not have to cook for three or four days. The diet is doomed! 

Sweet potatoes/yams are not totally ubiquitous.  At my Grandma's we always had winter (Hubbard) squash mashed and also she served mashed turnips (the latter I always avoided like the plague).  And there was always pumpkin pie or mince pie (homemade) served with vanilla ice cream.

And for god's sake, do tell those Brits to stop referring to the "Pilgrim fathers" all the time.     Some of them were mothers -- else I wouldn't be here!

And for god's sake, do tell those Brits to stop referring to the "Pilgrim fathers" all the time.     Some of them were mothers -- else I wouldn't be here!

Apparently the facts of life worked differently back then. 

What I always found myself TIRED of was people who would start bashing Thanksgiving as celebrating you people taking over and ruining things for the Indians and then having a feast every year. I would then have to explain the story of people from England getting on a big, big boat from England, sailing away from England and landing, taking over the country... Some people didn't seem to like the reminder very much. Also explaining that the feast was a celebration of surviving the first winter, celebrating the harvest, friendships formed with the natives prior to taking over, and not a celebration of taking over.

I saw that on FB yesterday and thought it was a bit disparaging toward the British.  Probably meant to be funny, but... it had a certain tone to it that made me uncomfortable.

In 20+ years in the UK, I can't remember anyone ever asking me anything about it other than 'it's more important than Christmas over there, right?'.  Not to me, but to each their own!

I don't like turkey to eat, but I do like them as birds, so thank you, OP, for the lovely photo of turkeys! 

I saw that on FB yesterday and thought it was a bit disparaging toward the British.  Probably meant to be funny, but... it had a certain tone to it that made me uncomfortable.

In 20+ years in the UK, I can't remember anyone ever asking me anything about it other than 'it's more important than Christmas over there, right?'.  Not to me, but to each their own!

I have to say when my DH read it he felt the same with you and felt it was very anti-British, I didn't get that vibe myself I took it much more tongue in cheek. I have to say the main thing  I have received is that some actually think it replaces Christmas, I think mainly because the turkey dinner is such a huge part of Christmas here.

I'm not trying to be anti-British at all, just trying to "take the piss" as they say over here. I love living in the UK, and I think in general that British people have a great sense of humour about themselves, except when the source of the piss-taking is from an American. That somehow upsets their view of how the world is meant to be.

Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving later this week.

I'm not trying to be anti-British at all, just trying to "take the piss" as they say over here. I love living in the UK, and I think in general that British people have a great sense of humour about themselves, except when the source of the piss-taking is from an American. That somehow upsets their view of how the world is meant to be.

Remember there are British people on UK-Y too, and although I enjoy reading your posts here and on your blog, some of them do come across as a bit anti-British at times.

Doesn't everyone have the same reaction to humour about themselves? I'm sure Americans don't like it either when other nationalities make fun of them or make sweeping generalisations about their lifestyles. It's one thing to turn the humour on yourself and take the piss out of your own things, but entirely another for someone else to do it.

I have US relatives and have spent 3 Thanksgivings in the US now... and I have taken part in the madness of Black Friday shopping twice (although not quite to the extent of standing in line for hours). In fact, Black Friday is part of the reason I like to visit over Thanksgiving (I would have gone this year too, but I went to the US in September instead this year). I know how much of a big deal Thanksgiving is to Americans and I have no desire to mess with it or make fun of it .

You can't really do a comedy blog if you're worried that making jokes and satirical cultural observations might offend people.

I'd like to note that I've done just as much satire on Americans as well, including a post just today about how Americans are basically brain-damaged uber-violent maniacs (thanks to dodgeball).

I guess I'm fated to be hated on both sides of the pond. 

Hey British People we Yanks aren't all obese....well I am but I have a cousin who is like a whippet - he seems to be able to eat anything he wants.

You can't really do a comedy blog if you're worried that making jokes and satirical cultural observations might offend people.

I'd like to note that I've done just as much satire on Americans as well, including a post just today about how Americans are basically brain-damaged uber-violent maniacs (thanks to dodgeball).

I guess I'm fated to be hated on both sides of the pond. 

This has been an interesting discussion to me, since I've greatly enjoyed your satirical blogs and so has my British fiance.  This Thanksgiving one was also very funny, but I did have the feeling that it skirted (and every so often toppled over) the line toward anti-British.  Since I've read the others, and your posts on UK-Yankee, I know this was just one of those times when my sensibilities were tweaked, but not in any way an indication of your feelings toward Americans or Brits.

How anyone could possibly write satirical commentary on social issues and not tweak the occasional sensibility, I have no idea.  IMHO it should just be considered a risk of the trade and a learning experience when tweaking occurs.  This opinion, of course, is mine and may have nothing to do with reality as I've never attempted a satirical blog post....

... but I'm very happy that you do make the effort and I happily reap the benefits with a well needed laugh now and again.   

By the way, your post on dodgeball was absolutely spot-on!  I think you may be on to something there, and, as the quite often last picked team member in elementary school games of dodgeball and other sadistic school sports, I salute your skill with words!

.... after I have a mini break down over traumatic childhood memories anyway....   

When my British friends start to tease me about Thanksgiving I always just remind them that we have two eating holidays in the span of a month.  Plus, what school child doesn't love a nice 5 day weekend only 3-4 weeks before Winter Break?  Win-Win!  Thank goodness that my in-laws are excited about our Thanksgiving celebration (even if it is happening on Saturday).