Can you remember going to another family's house for Thanksgiving for the first time, and being surprised at their traditions and the types of food they served?

My vietnamese family always have something new and weird to eat every thanksgiving.

yeh i went to an ex boyfriend xmas dinner…(we dont have thanks giving in the uk) and they always microwave their turkey…..who knew you could even do that to a whole turkey?

My inlaws always had ravioli instead of the traditional mashed potatoes. Sacrilege.

We always have chicken and noodles. I thought everyone did.

My stepdad’s parents had oyster dressing. I had never heard of such a thing and, as a 10 year old girl, couldn’t imagine anything more disgusting. It was especially disappointing since dressing is what I have always looked forward to the most.

My mom’s ex-wife was from a big Sicilian family. We went over there once and had lasagna for Thanksgiving. I was all “wtf?” But it was pretty darn good lasagna.

I remember going to my then-girlfriend’s place and feeling very awkward when the family joined hands and bowed their heads in prayer. I wasn’t a member of their religion, so I didn’t know what to do. Bowing my head with them seemed… mocking. But not participating seemed disrespectful. So I just kinda stood there in silence until it was over.

It was odd to me simply because TG is pretty much the only meal of a large family gathering in which my family generally doesn’t do a big prayer, since it’s the only strictly secular holiday for which there is a large family gathering.

Of course, anyone who comes with me to my family’s TG is generally pretty confused too. My father’s family came from Italy, so every big family gathering is a 4 course meal. First comes the antipasto. Second course is the Italian Wedding Soup. Invariably at this point, the guests will whisper to whomever brought them “Uhm, do you guys serve turkey and stuffing and everything?” Yes. That’s the third course….

No dark turkey meat. =( Twas a sad (albeit healthier) day.