American Thanksgiving in Zurich

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
21
In terms of relaxing, eating, and reflecting, Thanksgiving is def bigger than Christmas for most in Canada. Good preparation for Halloween, which is def the biggest party night in Canada. Oct is a busy month.

22
Ah, got turned down for a green card, eh?

23
NO;Its the day most people of the word wish a--holes like you would not exist

24

I agree with some of the others, for my family, the thing that sets Thanksgiving apart from Christmas was that it was a holiday to spend with ALL of our "loved ones," not just ones related by blood or marriage.

When I was a child, my folks would often invite some of the Marines from my dad's group who were unable to go home to come spend the holiday with us for a home cooked meal. This didn't happen with quite the same casual freedom at Christmas, there is too much "pressure" associated with presents I think may be part of it.. for Thanksgiving you show up and eat, maybe bring a covered dish along with you, that's it, no big deal.

Last year hubby had to work and I spent the day home all by myself... this was much harder than Christmas away from my family... at least Christmas is celebrated here, unlike Thanksgiving.

This year hubby and I are going to the US to see some of my family... I can hardly wait! **happy dancing**

So far as having two turkeys in one year... generally we have something other than turkey for Christmas.

Mom will make a leg of lamb, a ham or else do up some individual game hens. Mom's turkey is quite simple usually but quite tasty and not usually dry. I really really love her giblet gravy.

On the other hand, some coworkers brought in some leftover turkey from their feast one time, it had been deep fried wrapped in a brown paper bag (I didn't see the process so I'm not quite sure of the details).. o m goodness that turkey was fantastic! (Don't tell my mom I said so though! )

25
It's true that all the mentions about it being a very important social/family event are true. I've spent a Thanksgiving before without celebrating it with family, but my best friend's family saw me all alone and immediately included me in their celebration. This year, because obviously Switzerland doesn't have this holiday, there's no chance of me going home, so I want to celebrate it here.

I enjoy cooking. For the last four years, I did a Sunday-night pre-Thanksgiving and cooked enough food for 40 people, with the 50 lbs (25 kilos) of turkey that that entailed. That was exhausting, and I wouldn't do it alone again, but it was utterly fantastic. If people were worried about costs, a potluck style meal where people bring one dish that's enough for everyone else, plus just a little cash to cover the turkey and drinks is generally a very nice way celebrating. That's how my last Thanksgiving worked, and it was marvelous.

Maybe a nice pre or post Thanksgiving weekend celebration would work better for some people, because then the proper cooking could take place on a non-work day. And of course, our non-American EF'ers could partake as well. They don't have to be excluded from what my German grandmother calls "der grossen Fresstag".

26
From one bird???! Geez...

27

2 birds...sorry if that wasn't clear. Man, that would be a gigantic bird. We always had left-overs which made for spectacular sandwiches the next day.

28
Completely possible

29
I think a Thanksgiving Ostrich would be considered blasphemy. It'd be almost (but not quite) as bad as the time my grandmother served rabbit on Easter. It'd be like St. Patty's Day without corned beef and cabbage.

30
This should do the trick; Educational and tasty...but perhaps a bit too close to the bone (no pun intended) for the US EFers?

31
I think the drumsticks might me a little too chewy. But it is a free range bird.

32
now whilst I enjoy a bit of American-bashing myself (in good humour, naturally ), I don't understand why you've gone off on a groan-fest and have posted this. It's either an attempt to be funny (but ruined with groans) or you have a serious chip on your shoulder.

I worry for those celebrating Hanukkah, St David's Day or Eid al-Adha

33
mmmmmmmm

34
A other difference is , you don`t have to re-mortgage you house ,for all the gifts you have to buy at Christmas

35
For me, going home for Thanksgiving is more economical than going

home for Christmas. The flights are amazingly expensive during XMAS.

Furthermore, Christmas has become way too commercial for my taste.

36

Plus it is the only holiday where most companies give you two days sometimes 2.5 days off from work.

37
Plus all those NFL games.

(On Canadian Thanksgiving, we also have CFL games on the day.)

38
If anyone is interested in getting thanksgiving dinner catered by an American Chef, email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and we'll send you the details. You can also view the menu and details on our Facebook page -

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...00000460075965

Happy Thanksgiving!

39
Thanksgiving time is fast approaching. Several people have contacted me about this already. If you are alone or just a more intimate gathering in Zurich just PM me. I think we'll have all the staples like turkey, stuffing, pie, etc.

40
Final call:

we are celebrating over the weekend, so we actually have time to cook. Tell me if you are coming.

BTW, you don't have to be american, just like turkey.