How to celebrate Thanksgiving

Video: How Do Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving?

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 2: Part One: Preparing a Celebratory Dinner
Method 2 of 2: Part Two: Making a Great Time
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday that has been celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November since 1621. Thanksgiving means something different to different people, but for most people it is the time of the holiday table, parades, American football, family, friends and, of course, turkey. For many, this is also the time when you can finally forget your business, meet with loved ones and have a good time in their company. On Thanksgiving Day, it is customary to say thank you for good deeds, for the people who are with us and for those wonderful moments that happen in our lives. If you want to know how to celebrate Thanksgiving, just follow the next steps.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Part One: Preparing a Celebratory Dinner

1 Make a menu in advance. The traditional menu includes turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing toppings, several types of vegetables (such as sweet potatoes and courgettes), cranberry sauce, various cakes and breads. Here's what you'll need to prepare your holiday lunch:
- Write a list of products. Check what you already have and what you need to buy. Then go to the local market, butcher, supermarket and bakery. This division will help you break down the list into several parts, reducing the risk of forgetting or confusing something.
- Shop for the holiday ahead of time. Prepare the turkey and those products that are quickly snapping up on holidays in advance. If possible, freeze some ingredients so that you don't have to run to the store at the last moment. It is better to buy pastries on the day of the holiday or bake at home on your own.
- You should also call your guests to see if they can be expected. During the conversation, ask if they can provide any assistance in preparing dinner. So you can unload yourself a little from business.
2 Select recipes. Knowing what you’re going to cook in advance can help you create a more accurate list of foods and calculate the cooking times for each meal. Here are some holiday menu ideas:
- Turkey: Cook the turkey, stuff it and prepare it for the holiday table.
- Vegetables: cook beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree and
- Supplements to dishes: Make cranberry sauce and buns.
- Bakery products: Bake pumpkin pie, pumpkin buns, cookies. You can also use pumpkin in other desserts.
- For vegetarians: Prepare a vegetarian lunch for Thanksgiving, use tofu instead of turkey.
- Make a variety of cuts, sweets, and sandwiches for your snack. This way, you will not starve your guests if the dinner is late. For children, you can also make turkey sweets.
3 Cooking food. Some dishes can be prepared the day before the holiday, such as biscuits or pumpkin pie, other dishes need to be prepared exactly on the day of the holiday in order not to lose their freshness (such as turkey). Whenever you're cooking, don't be afraid to ask for help. This will make your holiday life much easier. You can also cook two small turkeys instead of one large one to make the process easier. Here's what you need to do while cooking:
- Allow enough time to thaw the turkey. Please note this may take several days depending on the size and weight of the turkey.
- Make pumpkin pie or other baked goods in a day. This will help you concentrate on preparing the main Thanksgiving meals.
- Roast the turkey and finish off the main course on the holiday itself. Practice stuffing your turkey ahead of time.
- Ask early family members and friends to help you out in the kitchen to take some of the stress out of your work.

Method 2 of 2: Part Two: Making a Great Time

1 Set the festive table. Decorate your dining table the night before, if possible. If not, lay out all the accessories at the ready to quickly decorate everything at the right time. Ask the children to help set the table. Let them also contribute to the preparations for the holiday. Table decoration methods:
- You can decorate the center of the table with something Thanksgiving-related. You can search the store for themed decorations and decorations, or you can build your own. Ask for help from children or guests who have nothing to do.
- Scented candles, a bouquet of autumn flowers, or a bowl of fruit are also not bad ideas for decorating the center of the table.
- You can also make themed nameplates for guests or make these plates look like turkeys.
- Build a turkey napkin holder.
- Use flowers to decorate. You can put it on the table or decorate the interior.
- Make sure you have enough space for all guests. If you don't have enough chairs, the little ones can be seated on the cushions by the coffee table.
2 Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving pastime. You can do this before lunch, during, or after. There are several Thanksgiving traditions that many families follow. Here are some of them:
- Gather around the TV and watch American football. Many fans sit in front of the TV for hours watching matches. It also helps to brighten up the time before lunch. You can also play American football with friends, neighbors and family members in the backyard. It's fun and helps whet your appetite!
- Take the kids and watch the Thanksgiving Parade on TV. Broadcasting is from New York. The parade is very popular and millions of Americans watch it at home. If time permits, take a break from your business and attend a local parade or watch it on TV.
3 Take some time to understand what Thanksgiving means. Thanksgiving is a chance for many families to reunite for the first time in many years, and is a good time to reflect on the love and care of others, as well as to realize what you feel grateful for. Consider how your family expresses this gratitude. Here are some suggestions:
- Play a game from A to Z. Everyone should sit next to each other to hear each other well. Everyone in a circle must say what he feels grateful for, based on the letter of the alphabet that he got. For example, I am grateful to the Brothers or I am grateful for the W-work of my family. Continue until the alphabet ends. You can capture this game on video.
- You can also come up with your own Thanksgiving tradition.
- This is a great time to start a journal and make it a goal to keep it until next Thanksgiving. In this diary, you will express gratitude to other people or joyful events in your life throughout the next year.
4 Help those who are less fortunate in this life. Donate money to some charity, take toys or clothes to a shelter, give to a homeless person, etc. This will set a good example for your children and teach them how to express gratitude for what they have.
5 Create afternoon activities. After eating, everyone will feel a little sleepy and overeat. It's time for some relaxing activities. Ideas to inspire you:
- Go for a walk with your family. Do not forget to take your dog for a walk, especially if the dog also ate too much at the party.
- Entertain guests.Play charades, tell stories, see photos, exchange news, etc.
- Read something. It's time to read something that you have long wanted to read for a long time, but could not because of lack of time.
- Watch the movie. Search the TV program for a suitable movie or pull out your favorite DVD.
- Play board games. If the children are still active, invite them to come up with a board game and then play it.
6 If you feel sleepy after lunch, take some sleep. If you have a busy day ahead, extra sleep won't hurt you. If you don't have to go anywhere, it's okay to take a nap on the couch anyway. You will feel better and energized the next day.
7 Take some time to stack up leftover food. Even if guests take some of the cooking with them, chances are good that you will have a ton of untouched food the next day. Energized, you can prepare delicious meals from leftover food. For example:
- Turkey casserole and toppings
- Turkey soup
- Turkey sandwiches
- Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwiches
- Chopped turkey with potatoes and vegetables
- Use leftover food for other meals

Tips

Clean the house in a few days. Thus, you can enjoy the holiday and pay more attention to the family, rather than cleaning.
If you decide to try something new, prepare this dish ahead of time to taste it and determine if it is easy to prepare. You will also know if it's worth adding more salt, sugar, etc.
A traditional turkey dinner is not the main indicator of Thanksgiving. If you have ham instead of turkey, it will not change the significance of the holiday in the least.
If this is your first time preparing a traditional holiday lunch, choose simple recipes. If something goes wrong, it will be easier for you to re-prepare a simple dish rather than a gourmet one.
If you are hosting, make sure there are dietary or healthy options on your table. Consider if guests have any allergies or preferences for vegetarian food.
It's okay if you buy several ready-made meals. Not everyone has the time or ability to cook every meal from start to finish.

Warnings

It's never too early to start thawing a turkey. You should not start doing this in the morning on the day of the holiday.
Keep children away from the oven when roasting the turkey. They can burn themselves ..
Due to its specifics, Thanksgiving is celebrated only in the United States.

What do you need

To-do list (handwritten or computer generated)
Products (must be purchased or purchased in advance)
Decorations for table setting
Good dinnerware and cutlery
Candles or other decorative lighting
A clean and ironed tablecloth, napkins, etc.
TV tuned to a sports channel
Prepared games and other entertainment
Gratitude items as relevant
Roster of helpers if relevant
Determine what needs to be done during the day, assign responsibilities between your assistants
Dishwasher and someone who will load it
Food storage containers or freezer
Turkey