Hey :)
I’m from Germany and I’m curious what a typical Thanksgiving is actually like in an American family.
我是德国人，很好奇美国家庭典型的感恩节到底是什么样的。
When do you start preparing and cooking, and what does Thanksgiving Day usually look like for you?
你们什么时候开始准备和做菜？感恩节当天一般是怎么过的？
I’m especially curious about the food! What dishes are a must in your family, and do you have any special family or regional traditions?
我对吃的特别好奇！哪些菜是你们家必不可少的？有没有什么特别的家庭传统或者地方习俗？
I’d love to hear what a real Thanksgiving is like beyond what we see in movies and TV! :)
很想听听真实的感恩节是什么样，不局限于电影和美剧里演的那样！:)
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seamist17 · 2026-08-18 10:32
in my family we always hosted so prepping starts in the days before the actual holiday, you had to check with mom before eating anything in the fridge in case it was being saved for appetizers or whatever. day of we wake up and watch the macys parade while getting everything going. stuffing in the crockpot, turkey in the oven, prep veggies for salad and sides like roasted brussels sprouts and carrots. everyone comes over around 2:00, turn on football and we eat by 4:00.
我家一直是我们做东，所以节前好几天就得开始准备，冰箱里任何东西吃之前都得先问过我妈，万一是留着做开胃菜之类的呢。当天早上起来一边看梅西百货感恩节大游行(Macy's parade)一边开始忙活。填料(stuffing)放慢炖锅里，火鸡进烤箱，再备好做沙拉的蔬菜，还有烤抱子甘蓝(roasted brussels sprouts)、胡萝卜之类的配菜。大家两点左右到，打开橄榄球赛，四点开吃。
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Allodoxia · 2026-08-18 10:36
It’s honestly fairly similar to what you see in movies and TV. Spend the whole morning cooking tons of food - turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, etc. Family and friends come over usually in the late afternoon. Sometimes family members will bring a dish as well so the host doesn’t have to prepare everything. However the host will basically always make the turkey. In my circle the host rotates so some years I’ll host and some years I’ll be a guest. Guests can always bring a bottle of wine or a beverage to share if they don’t bring food. You see a lot of people that you don’t usually see during the year for whatever reason. This can be really nice or it can lead to some drama and conflict if you’re not seeing them for a reason (racist uncle trope, for example). All in all it’s a time to come together as friends and family. It’s basically Christmas without the presents or tree and instead with some fall decor.
说实话，跟电影和美剧里演的差不太多。一整个上午都在做一大堆菜——火鸡、土豆、青豆砂锅(green bean casserole)、小餐包(rolls)、蔓越莓酱(cranberry sauce)、肉汁(gravy)、填料、红薯砂锅(sweet potato casserole)等等。家人朋友一般傍晚时分到。有时候家里人也会带一道菜来，这样主人就不用全包了。不过火鸡基本上都是主人烤。我们这一圈是轮流做东，所以有的年份我招待，有的年份我当客人。不带吃的的话，客人随时都可以带瓶葡萄酒或者饮料来分享。你会见到很多平时因为各种原因一年到头见不着的人。这可以很温馨，也可能闹出点狗血和冲突——如果你见不着他们本来就是因为不想见的话（比如那个种族歧视的叔叔的经典桥段）。总而言之，这是亲朋好友团聚的时刻。基本就是没有礼物和圣诞树、换成秋天装饰的圣诞节。
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V-DaySniper · 2026-08-18 10:33
Start prepping in the morning so its ready by late afternoon. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, yams, rolls, cranberry sauce, and couple different pies.
早上开始备菜，下午晚些时候开饭。火鸡、土豆泥配肉汁、青豆砂锅、填料、山药(yams)、小餐包、蔓越莓酱，再加几种派。
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Weird_Squirrel_8382 · 2026-08-18 14:08
I have roll questions. Homemade or packaged? What kind?
餐包这块我有问题。自己做的还是买的现成的？哪种？
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No-Pomegranate3070 · 2026-08-18 10:34
We have about 5 family units, plus random guests. so food is split between them. My sister does a killer keto oyster stuffing, my brother bakes the best turkeys, I make amazing pumpkin and apple pies, some one brings sides of potatoes (mashed Russett and baked sweet potatoes), another brings salad and bread.
我们大概有 5 家小家庭，外加一些随机客人，所以菜品是几家分摊的。我妹妹做的生酮牡蛎填料(keto oyster stuffing)一绝，我哥烤的火鸡最棒，我做的南瓜派和苹果派超好吃，有人带土豆配菜（褐皮土豆泥和烤红薯），还有人带沙拉和面包。
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Imaginary_Ladder_917 · 2026-08-18 11:45
This is somewhat similar to my husband’s family. A sign up email is sent out and people choose what they want to bring. Usually the host gets the turkey ready a day or so ahead, to be reheated in a crock pot or electric roaster. We serve it buffet style. There are a lot of people—usually about 40– so pies may or may not be present. It just depends on who signs up for dessert.
这跟我老公家有点像。先发一封报名邮件，大家自己选要带什么。一般主人提前一两天把火鸡做好，到时候用慢炖锅或者电烤炉加热。我们是自助餐形式。人特别多——一般 40 人左右——所以派可能有也可能没有，就看谁报名做甜点了。
My own side of the family is small but we still help out and the turkey is cooked early because turkey is a pain to cook. My family always has sweet potatoes but my husband’s doesn’t. I am generally quietly annoyed at the lack. They are wrong. My family also has pie, usually a couple of choices.
我自己娘家这边人不多，但大家也都搭把手，火鸡也是早早烤好，因为烤火鸡是真费劲。我家一直有红薯，我老公家没有。我一般都默默不爽。他们不懂。我家也总有派，一般有两三种可选。
The last time I hosted his family, I had both turkey and ham. The ham was a hit.
上次我招待他家人，火鸡和火腿都做了。火腿大受欢迎。
We trade off between the families each year in terms of whether we celebrate on the actual holiday or another day close to it.
至于是在感恩节正日子过还是前后挑一天过，两家每年轮流换。
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Weird_Squirrel_8382 · 2026-08-18 14:09
Crock pot turkey sounds good as hell, nice and tender. I say make yourself a little pan of yams.
慢炖锅火鸡听着就香，又嫩又入味。我说你就该给自己做一小盘山药。
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Imaginary_Ladder_917 · 2026-08-18 14:15
Sometimes I bring the sweet potatoes and the other in-laws eat them!
有时候我带红薯去，其他婆家人还真吃了！
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Weird_Squirrel_8382 · 2026-08-18 14:27
Yes, teach them about the good life! (but make your plate and your backup plate first).
好样的，带他们见识见识什么叫好日子！（不过先给自己盛好一盘，再留一盘备用的）。
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Odd-Refuse-2233 · 2026-08-18 10:37
Food will have regional variations.
吃的这块各地有各地的花样。
I grew up in the Midwest, my family has more the traditional stuff you’ll see in movies - big turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and dressing, and typically a bunch of other side veggies. Cranberries and Pumpkin pie are a must.
我在中西部长大，我家那套比较传统，就是电影里常见的那几样——大火鸡、土豆泥配肉汁、填料和调味面包馅(dressing)，一般还有一堆别的蔬菜配菜。蔓越莓和南瓜派必须有。
My wife is from the east coast, her family has had something different every time we’ve been able to head back for thanksgiving. We did deep fryer turkey one year and prime rib another.
我老婆是东海岸的，每次我们能回去过感恩节，她家的菜式都不一样。有一年做了油炸火鸡(deep fryer turkey)，还有一年吃的是上等牛肋排(prime rib)。
In our house the tradition has adapted to my wife’s vegetarian preference. I make a ratatouille, a turkey, turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, a bunch of additional veggies, and of course cranberries and pumpkin pie.
我们家的传统已经迁就我老婆的素食口味改造过了。我做普罗旺斯炖菜(ratatouille)、火鸡、火鸡肉汁、土豆泥、芝士通心粉(mac and cheese)，再加一堆别的蔬菜，当然还有蔓越莓和南瓜派。
Typically I start the day before doing prep work. For the last 6 or so years my wife and I get up on Thanksgiving and do a half marathon turkey trot (depending on where we are the run can be organized or just us out for a run). After the run I usually finish cooking the stuff that doesn’t taste as good made a day early (steamed fresh veggies, dressing). Turkey takes hours so it goes in that morning last two I did were crockpot turkeys, turned out great.
我一般前一天就开始备菜。过去六年左右，我和我老婆感恩节早上会去跑个半马"火鸡跑"(turkey trot)（看我们在哪儿，有时候是组织的比赛，有时候就是我俩自己出去跑）。跑完回来我一般把隔夜做就不好吃的那些做完（新鲜蒸蔬菜、调味面包馅）。火鸡要烤好几个小时，所以早上就得下锅，最近两只我用慢炖锅做的，效果很好。
With family Thanksgiving day is usually busy prep, then huge meal, clean up and games. Depending on my family or hers it’ll be card games or board games. If we’re at our place it’s a little more lowkey because our extended families do less travel.
跟家人过的话，感恩节当天一般是忙着备菜，然后大餐一顿，收拾完再玩游戏。看是我家还是她家，玩的是纸牌还是桌游。要是在我们自己家，就清净一些，因为两边的大家族都不怎么走动。
It’s a lot of work but very fun and in my opinion totally worth it.
是很累，但很开心，我觉得完全值得。
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SubstantialListen921 · 2026-08-18 14:02
Random q: what do you do to the ratatouille to make it feel “special” for holiday? They can be a little, well, flat.
随口一问：你的普罗旺斯炖菜是做了什么处理，让它有"过节"的感觉的？那玩意儿有点，怎么说呢，平淡。
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Weird_Squirrel_8382 · 2026-08-18 14:11
Second time I'm reading about crock pot turkey and it really sounds like a good idea.
这是我第二次看到慢炖锅火鸡了，听起来真是个好主意。
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SphincterKing · 2026-08-18 10:37
We have about 8-9 people at our house each thanksgiving. Not a fan of turkey, so we do a small turkey breast and a beef rib roast. Sides are fairly traditional- mashed potato, green beans, rolls, stuffing. My mom always brings Ambrosia salad which is really a desert if you ask me. My wife makes pumpkin pie from scratch.
我家每年感恩节大概 8-9 个人。都不爱吃火鸡，所以我们做一小块火鸡胸肉加一份烤牛肋排。配菜就挺传统——土豆泥、青豆、小餐包、填料。我妈每次都带琥珀沙拉(Ambrosia salad)，要我说那玩意儿根本就是甜点。我老婆从零开始做南瓜派。
There’s too many to eat in our small dining room, so we set up a table in the backyard - it’s Southern California so it’s usually great weather. NFL football plays in the background the whole day. We have a tradition of the kids taking the Christmas advertisements for the department stores and circling their wish lists for Christmas.
人太多，小餐厅坐不下，所以我们在后院摆了张桌子——南加州嘛，天气一般都很好。NFL 橄榄球赛一整天当背景音放着。我们有个传统：孩子们拿百货公司的圣诞广告册，圈出自己的圣诞愿望清单。
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LadySiren · 2026-08-18 10:41
Blended family with five (now-grown) kids here.
重组家庭，五个孩子（现在都长大了）。
Our family tradition is to decorate the Christmas tree after our Thanksgiving dinner. I also try to get the kids excited about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade but even 20 years, they still roll their eyes at me.
我们家的传统是感恩节晚饭后装饰圣诞树。我还想带孩子们爱上梅西百货感恩节大游行，但都 20 年了，他们还是冲我翻白眼。
As for preparing, it generally starts the night before - pie baking, getting stuff ready for the following day, etc.
至于准备，一般从前一天晚上开始——烤派、把第二天要用的东西备好之类的。
The day of, I usually have a grazing table of breakfast / munchies that people can pick at until dinner time. Typically, we’ll have some sort of sweets (cinnamon rolls, eclairs, and such), along with fresh fruit and veggies, a meat and cheese tray, maybe some nuts. Because I am the cook, I get myself some smoked salmon and capers, and a bottle of champagne (cook’s privilege, yo).
当天早上，我一般会摆一桌早餐零食，开饭前大家可以随手拿着吃。通常会有点甜食（肉桂卷、闪电泡芙之类的），加上新鲜水果和蔬菜，一盘肉和芝士，可能再来点坚果。因为我是掌勺的，我会给自己来一份烟熏三文鱼配刺山柑，外加一瓶香槟（厨师特权，懂的都懂）。
Dinner is roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rice, some sort of vegetable, gravy, and bread and rolls. We generally also have sparkling grape juice on the table - a holdover from when my kids were young and we convinced them it was fancy, LOL.
正餐是烤火鸡、填料、土豆泥、米饭、某种蔬菜、肉汁，还有面包和小餐包。桌上一般还有气泡葡萄汁——这是我孩子小时候留下的传统，我们当年哄他们说这是高档货，哈哈。
Dessert is pumpkin pie, chocolate mousse, and a raspberry Oreo cheesecake pie made according to my MIL’s family recipe. Then, it’s time for a food coma on the couch.
甜点是南瓜派、巧克力慕斯，还有按我婆婆家祖传配方做的树莓奥利奥芝士蛋糕派。然后，就是在沙发上进入食物昏迷状态的时间了。
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Pudenda726 · 2026-08-18 10:41
The number of days of prep varies depending on what I’m cooking. Last year I deboned the entire turkey whole & made a turkey roulade. I had to start that 5 days before thanksgiving. Our typical Thanksgiving dinner in my family is turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, collard greens, & baked macaroni & cheese with some added dishes sprinkled in for variety. I’ve hosted anywhere from 4 people to +40 people but it’s generally about a dozen on average.
提前几天准备取决于我做什么。去年我把整只火鸡完整去了骨，做了个火鸡肉卷(turkey roulade)，那个得提前 5 天就开工。我们家的感恩节标配是火鸡、填料、土豆泥、肉汁、羽衣甘蓝(collard greens)和烤芝士通心粉，再随机加点别的菜换换花样。我招待过从 4 个人到 40 多人的局，但平均下来一般十几个。
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Friendly_Coconut · 2026-08-18 10:51
We get all of our groceries together on Tuesday and do some cooking at home on Wednesday, some when the family all meets up on Thursday.
我们周二把所有食材买齐，周三在家做一部分，周四全家聚齐再做剩下的。
We typically have:
我们一般吃这些：
\* Turkey and homemade gravy
\* 火鸡配自制肉汁
\* Cornbread stuffing
\* 玉米面包填料(cornbread stuffing)
\* Cranberry sauce
\* 蔓越莓酱
\* Mashed potatoes
\* 土豆泥
\* Sweet potato casserole
\* 红薯砂锅
\* Green bean casserole
\* 青豆砂锅
\* Corn pudding
\* 玉米布丁(corn pudding)
\* Some type of green salad
\* 某种绿叶沙拉
\* Pumpkin pie
\* 南瓜派
\* Apple pie
\* 苹果派
There are 8-10 adults (depending on if my uncle and his girlfriend come) and 2 toddlers in my family.
我家有8到10个大人（看我叔叔带不带他女朋友来），外加2个小不点儿。
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79215185-1feb-44c6 · 2026-08-18 10:28
I live alone so it's just any other day for me.
我一个人住，所以这天对我来说跟平常没啥区别。
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Savings_Pipe_8029 · 2026-08-18 10:31
I have a small family so I don't do a lot of cooking compared to other people. I will cook up the pies the night before I always had a pumpkin and then I'll have a cherry crumb as well. My sons are picky eaters so I've scaled back what I make now so I have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and rolls. I used to make green beans and sweet potato soufflé, but I was the only one that ate it.
我家人少，所以跟别人比我不怎么大做。派我前一天晚上烤好，雷打不动一个南瓜派，再搭一个樱桃酥顶派（cherry crumb）。我儿子们嘴挑，所以我现在做的量也减了，就做火鸡、填料（stuffing）、土豆泥和小餐包。我以前还做青豆和红薯舒芙蕾，但只有我一个人吃。
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Ok-Gur7415 · 2026-08-18 10:36
my mom does similar, small family so we dont bother with huge spread. she makes pumpkin pie day before too, and then we just do turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls. no stuffing cause nobody eats it but me and she says not worth the trouble haha
我妈也差不多，家里人少，懒得搞一大桌。她的南瓜派也是前一天做好，然后我们就吃火鸡、肉汁、土豆泥、小餐包。填料不做，因为除了我没人吃，她说不值得费那劲哈哈
do you ever miss the sweet potato soufflé or is it fine since you just make what people actually eat
你会想念红薯舒芙蕾吗，还是觉得只做大家真吃的东西也挺好？
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Valvechick · 2026-08-18 12:40
I love sweet potato souffle but same, I'm the only one to eat it. I make it anyway :) same with corn pudding.
我超爱红薯舒芙蕾，但一样，也只有我一个人吃。反正我照做不误 :) 玉米布丁（corn pudding）同理。
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Savings_Pipe_8029 · 2026-08-18 14:06
I do miss it, but maybe someday I'll make a smaller portion. With everything else to eat it just doesn't get all eaten. Maybe I'll try to cut the recipe town and do a small little thing for myself.
是挺想念的，但也许哪天我会做一小份。别的东西那么多，它根本吃不完。也许我会试试把方子减量，给自己做个小小的单人份。
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MacaroonSad8860 · 2026-08-18 10:34
My family hasn't done a proper Thanksgiving since I was a teenager (my father and elders are deceased and I live far away now) but when we did, it was something like:
我家从我十几岁起就没正经过过感恩节了（我爸和长辈们都去世了，我现在也住得远），但以前过的时候，大概是这样的：
Wake up and my dad would be prepping the turkey to go in the oven. My mom would prepare most of the sides, and I would help with whatever she asked. Later on we'd have people over—aunts/uncles or grandparents, sometimes family friends or neighbors. We'd usually eat around 3pm, then hang out and play games. Some people might watch football, but we weren't much of a football family.
一早醒来，我爸已经在拾掇火鸡准备进烤箱。我妈负责大部分配菜，她让我帮啥我就帮啥。晚些时候会有人来家里——叔叔阿姨或者爷爷奶奶，有时候是家里的朋友或邻居。我们通常下午3点左右开饭，然后待着玩游戏。有些人会看橄榄球，但我们家不太看橄榄球。
Some years we'd instead go to someone else's house, and just bring a side or dessert or both.
有些年份我们改去别人家过，就带个配菜或甜点，或者都带。
Our table usually included: turkey with stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, brussels sprouts or some other veg like roasted carrots. Adults would drink wine or beer.
我们桌上通常有：火鸡配填料和肉汁、土豆泥、青豆焗烤（green bean casserole）、蔓越莓酱、抱子甘蓝或者烤胡萝卜之类的别的蔬菜。大人们喝葡萄酒或啤酒。
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thatoneguyfromva · 2026-08-18 10:36
My in-laws eat earlier than most families do on Thanksgiving. We eat around noon which means cooking begins quite early.
我岳父岳母家感恩节比大多数人家吃得早。我们中午左右就开饭，这意味着做饭得一大早就开工。
In addition to the customary turkey, we usually have ham as well because some family members don’t like turkey. We have standard Thanksgiving side dishes like mashed potatoes, beans, sweet potato casserole, macaroni & cheese, rolls, etc., as well as deviled eggs, asparagus, broccoli & cheese casserole, collard greens, and other things I’m probably forgetting.
除了惯例的火鸡，我们通常还有火腿，因为有些家人不爱吃火鸡。配菜是感恩节标配，比如土豆泥、豆角、红薯焗烤（sweet potato casserole）、芝士通心粉（macaroni & cheese）、小餐包等等，另外还有魔鬼蛋（deviled eggs）、芦笋、西兰花芝士焗烤、羽衣甘蓝（collard greens），还有些我大概忘了的。
We have a couple of dessert options including pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, banana pudding, and chocolate cake.
甜点有好几样可选，南瓜派、红薯派、香蕉布丁和巧克力蛋糕。
Growing up my family always started putting up the Christmas tree Thanksgiving night after watching movies. My in-laws wait until December to decorate for Christmas.
我小时候，我家总是在感恩节晚上看完电影后开始摆圣诞树。我岳父岳母家要等到12月才布置圣诞装饰。
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amyn2511 · 2026-08-18 11:20
We always have ham too. I love a good ham with pineapple and cloves stuck in it.
我们家也一直有火腿。我就爱那种插满菠萝和丁香的好火腿。
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emmasdad01 · 2026-08-18 10:38
Fried turkey, sweet potatoes, fresh rolls. Usually a small event since we don’t have local family.
炸火鸡、红薯、现烤小餐包。一般都是小聚，因为我们在本地没有亲戚。
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LettingHimLead · 2026-08-18 10:41
We have about 40 people over, so it’s a big affair and I have to start prep a couple of days before the event. We have Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, hashbrown casserole, broccoli casserole, green beans, cream style corn, deviled eggs, cornbread salad, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, rolls, and various desserts.
我们大概来40个人，所以是个大场面，我得提前好几天开始备菜。菜有火鸡、填料、土豆泥、薯饼焗烤（hashbrown casserole）、西兰花焗烤、青豆、奶油玉米、魔鬼蛋、玉米面包沙拉、蔓越莓酱、红薯焗烤、小餐包，还有各种甜点。
It’s our favorite day of the year, but it’s A LOT of work!
这是一年中我们最喜欢的一天，但活儿是真特么多！
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Appropriate_Dish1015 · 2026-08-18 10:44
We rotate which relative hosts. Whoever's turn it is to host, provides the turkey and we split up bringing everything else. Sometimes, someone brings a ham or gumbo.
我们几家亲戚轮流做东。轮到谁主办，谁就出火鸡，其余的东西大家分着带。有时候有人会带火腿或者秋葵浓汤（gumbo）。
We usually do a lot of dishes but they include rice dressing, okra, green beans, some type of roasted vegetables, cornbread dressing, salad, etc. are what stands out to me. Dessert: fudge, pralines, pecan pie, divinity, pumpkin pie, apple nut cake, apple pie.
我们一般做很多菜，让我印象深的有米饭填料（rice dressing）、秋葵、青豆、某种烤蔬菜、玉米面包填料、沙拉等等。甜点：软糖（fudge）、果仁糖（pralines）、山核桃派、蛋白酥糖（divinity）、南瓜派、苹果坚果蛋糕、苹果派。
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pacododo · 2026-08-18 10:47
Very large family so my sisters, our mom, and I all pitch in. I'm typically responsible for the pumpkin pies and cranberry sauce. I make the 10 pies on Wednesday (Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday) and the cranberry on Thursday morning. We rotate houses and whoever hosts makes the turkey. It's always a wonderful day.
我们是个很大的家庭，所以我和姐妹们、还有我妈，全都搭把手。我通常负责南瓜派和蔓越莓酱。10个派我周三烤（感恩节永远在周四），蔓越莓酱周四早上做。我们轮流在各家过，谁做东谁烤火鸡。那天总是特别美好。
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broadsharp2 · 2026-08-18 10:49
Prep starts the day before. Pies are made. My wife makes excellent Pumpkin pie and a cranberry and walnut relish. I make an apple pie and blackberry pie.
准备工作提前一天开始。派先做好。我老婆做的南瓜派一绝，还有一个蔓越莓核桃开胃酱（relish）。我做苹果派和黑莓派。
Evening before I salt the Turkey let it sit over night. Need that crispy skin.
前一天晚上我给火鸡抹盐，腌一宿。就为了那层脆皮。
Start cooking around 9 am. Bird cooks for around 4 hours total. Covered at Low temps 300 f for 3 hours. High temp to 375 uncovered until crispy skin. Usually 45 minutes. Rest for an hour.
早上9点左右开烤。整只烤差不多4小时。盖着盖儿低温300华氏度烤3小时，然后升到375度不盖盖儿，烤到皮脆，一般45分钟。再静置一小时。
While the bird is cooking. You prep and do all the side dishes and gravy.
烤火鸡的时候，你就准备并做完所有配菜和肉汁。
At dinner, heat up the home made pies.
开饭时，把自家做的派热一热。
By 6pm. Everyone is stuffed and groaning.
到下午6点，人人都撑得直哼哼。
By 7, I'm usually laying somewhere passed out from the last two days.
到7点，我基本已经瘫在哪儿睡死过去了——连轴转了两天。
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SnoopyFan6 · 2026-08-18 10:50
It’s my husband’s entire extended family. We’re talking around 30 people. Whoever hosts makes the turkey and whatever else they want to make. Everyone else brings the other food.
来的是我老公整个大家族。差不多30号人。谁做东谁烤火鸡，外加他自己想做的任何东西。其他人带别的菜。
We always have turkey, dressing/stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade noodles, some vegetable, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, other pie, other foods.
我们雷打不动有火鸡、填料、土豆泥、肉汁、自制面条、某种蔬菜、餐包、配打发奶油的南瓜派、别的派，还有别的吃的。
It’s my least favorite holiday.
这是我最不喜欢的节日。
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GhostOfJamesStrang · 2026-08-18 10:54
I run a "Turkey Trot" 5k in the morning. Then spend the rest of the day eating and watching football with my family.
我早上先跑个"火鸡跑（Turkey Trot）"5公里。然后剩下的一天就跟家人一起吃吃喝喝看橄榄球。
It's my favorite holiday.
这是我最喜欢的节日。
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anonymousambassasor · 2026-08-18 10:29
Me and my dog. Maybe the cat if she’s up for it. Cornish game hens, broccoli casserole, lemonade pie.
就我和我的狗。猫要是赏脸的话也算上。吃康沃尔小母鸡（Cornish game hens）、西兰花焗烤、柠檬派。
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RipleyKY · 2026-08-18 10:57
My grandparents had 7 children, and as such, we’ve have family all the way down to great great grandchildren come to Thanksgiving over the years.
我爷爷奶奶生了7个孩子，所以这些年感恩节来的人一路排到了曾曾孙辈。
It’s a lot of food, and cooking/baking usually starts the previous day. Because of the size of our family, it is more like a buffet and potluck than a traditional sit-down-at-the-table type of Thanksgiving. This was our typical Appalachian Thanksgiving:
吃的特别多，做饭烘焙一般前一天就开始了。因为家族太大，我们这更像自助餐加百家饭（potluck），而不是传统那种围桌正坐的感恩节。这就是我们典型的阿巴拉契亚（Appalachian）感恩节：
Meats:
\- Two whole turkeys
\- 两只整火鸡
\- One or two large hams
\- 一到两只大火腿
Side dishes:
配菜：
\- Mashed Potatoes
\- 土豆泥
\- Corn
\- 玉米
\- Green Beans
\- 青豆
\- Sweet Potato Casserole
\- 红薯焗烤
\- Candied Yams (with toasted marshmallow)
\- 糖渍山药（上面铺烤棉花糖）
\- Seven-layer salad
\- 七层沙拉（seven-layer salad）
\- Pasta salad (creamy)
\- 意面沙拉（奶油口的）
\- Potato salad
\- 土豆沙拉
\- Coleslaw
\- 凉拌卷心菜丝（coleslaw）
\- Broccoli Salad
\- 西兰花沙拉
\- Deviled Eggs
\- 魔鬼蛋
\- Cranberry Sauce and/or Cranberry Jam
\- 蔓越莓酱和/或蔓越莓果酱
Desserts:
\- Apple stack cake
\- 苹果叠叠糕（apple stack cake）
\- Berries and Dumplings
\- 浆果配面疙瘩（berries and dumplings）
\- Egg Custard Pie
\- 蛋奶派（egg custard pie）
\- Fruit salad
\- 水果沙拉
\- Usually some boxed cake, like angel food cake with whipped cream icing
\- 一般还有盒装蛋糕粉做的蛋糕，比如浇打发奶油糖霜的天使蛋糕
Candies:
\- Peanut butter rolls
\- 花生酱卷
\- Buckeyes
\- 七叶树果巧克力球（buckeyes）
\- Creamcicle Fudge
\- 橘子奶香软糖（creamcicle fudge）
Drinks (besides the usual):
饮料（除了常规那些）：
\- Punch (Sprite, Pineapple Juice, and Orange Sherbet)
\- 潘趣酒（雪碧、菠萝汁加橙子雪葩）
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ZaphodG · 2026-08-18 10:58
Now?
It’s the two of us. I like traditional Thanksgiving side dishes. I buy a cooked spiral sliced ham and heat it in the oven. I bake a mirepoix/sausage meat/chestnut stuffing. Mashed butternut squash with some maple syrup. Mashed carrot and rutabaga/Swede. Whole cranberry/orange juice sauce. Haricots verts with toasted slivered almonds. Hawaiian rolls which are basically Portuguese sweet bread as small rolls. A store bought pie or two. Apple pie and cherry pie top the list.
就我们俩。我喜欢传统的感恩节配菜。我买一只做好的螺旋切片火腿，放烤箱里热。我烤一个法式蔬菜丁（mirepoix）加香肠肉加栗子的填料。胡桃南瓜泥拌点枫糖浆。胡萝卜芜菁甘蓝（rutabaga/Swede）泥。整粒蔓越莓加橙汁熬的酱。法式青刀豆（haricots verts）配烤杏仁片。夏威夷小面包（Hawaiian rolls），基本就是小个的葡萄牙甜面包。再买一两个现成的派。苹果派和樱桃派排前两名。
I buy a bag of dried split peas for pea soup with the ham bone and some of the leftover ham. Freeze some of the ham for sandwiches.
我会买一袋干豌豆，用火腿骨头和一部分剩火腿煮豌豆汤。再冻一些火腿留着做三明治。
I used to host an elaborate Thanksgiving meal for friends at the ski resort with a roasted turkey and several more side dishes. I baked my own pies. I’d prepare most of it the day before and go skiing for a few hours after putting the turkey in the oven. There were often 10 to 12 at the table. I’d pull some good wine out of my cellar.
我以前在滑雪场给朋友们办过讲究的感恩节大餐，烤火鸡外加好几种配菜。派也是我自己烤。大部分活儿前一天就备好，把火鸡送进烤箱后我还能去滑几小时雪。桌上常常坐10到12个人。我还会从酒窖里拿几瓶好酒出来。
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kitchengardengal · 2026-08-18 11:02
Ours is a small family, so it's simple. Nowadays my son will dry brine and spatchcock a small turkey or large chicken. I make my mother's recipe for the bread stuffing with bacon and mushrooms in it. My son or I will make the gravy. We will have broccoli or some other green vegetables. I insist on cranberry sauce, sometimes homemade. Sweet potatoes layered with apples, no marshmallows We finish off with my mother's recipe for sour cream apple pie.
我们家人少，所以简单。现在我儿子会把一只小火鸡或大鸡干腌（dry brine）再压平摊开烤（spatchcock）。我照我妈的方子做面包填料，里面放培根和蘑菇。肉汁我儿子或者我来做。配西兰花或别的绿色蔬菜。蔓越莓酱我坚持要有，有时候自己做。红薯一层层叠着苹果烤，不放棉花糖。最后用我妈方子的酸奶油苹果派收尾。
My fiance and I also share Thanksgiving with his two sons and their families, so there may be a out 14 people there. I only have to make one thing - haven't figured out the killer dish yet. My stuffing didn't go over as well as the package stuffing the next year. My sweet potatoes and apples lost out to marshmallow covered sweeter than sweet potatoes. There's usually a ham and beef roast or turkey, green bean casserole, veggie tray with Ranch, deviled eggs, Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with package gravy. Lots of pies.
我和我未婚夫还跟他的两个儿子两家一起过感恩节，所以那边大概有14个人。我只需要做一道菜——但还没琢磨出镇场子的拿手菜。我的填料第二年就输给了袋装现成填料。我的红薯苹果输给了盖满棉花糖、甜到齁的红薯。那边一般有火腿加烤牛肉或者火鸡、青豆焗烤、配田园酱（Ranch）的蔬菜拼盘、魔鬼蛋、芝士通心粉、土豆泥配袋装肉汁。派特别多。
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Ok-Energy-9785 · 2026-08-18 11:03
One side of my family goes to Disney World that week and cooks a traditional meal with extended family and friends.
我家一边那周去迪士尼世界（Disney World），跟大家庭和朋友做一顿传统的饭。
The other side stays within the state and switches between family members who volunteer to host.
另一边留在本州，在自愿做东的家人之间轮着来。
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Judgy-Introvert · 2026-08-18 11:03
Since my dad passed away, it looks pretty nonexistent now. 😞
自从我爸去世后，这节基本就等于没有了。😞
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aennabaenaena · 2026-08-18 11:42
🫂
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ToxDocUSA · 2026-08-18 11:04
It's changed recently as we just moved back to where our extended family lives. More consistent people joining us means much higher stress, though no one traveling / sleeping in the guest room means that stress ends after dinner/ you aren't still entertaining guests the next morning.
最近变了，因为我们刚搬回大家庭住的地方。来的人固定了意味着压力大很多，不过没人赶路、没人睡客房，也意味着吃完晚饭压力就结束了，不用第二天早上还接着招待客人。
I'll start making the menu a couple weeks in advance to be sure I get buy in from everyone and I can source any unusual ingredients if I'm trying something new. Small prep things start a day or two in advance, like thawing and brining the turkey. For all my complaints about visitors above, I'm usually only cooking 7ish dishes for 8-10 people so the actual meal can generally be done all on Thanksgiving itself.
我会提前几周开始定菜单，确保大家都买账，而且如果要试新菜还能淘到不常见的食材。零碎的准备工作提前一两天开始，比如给火鸡解冻和腌制。虽然我上面吐槽了一堆客人的事，但我通常也就给8到10个人做7个左右的菜，所以正餐当天基本都能搞定。
Breakfast that morning I'll usually do something a little fancier, like eggs Benedict or a quiche. Often I'll make mimosas with breakfast, though that's only "mandatory" for Christmas morning. Lunch is then usually very light. I prefer dinner at 6 like usual, but my mother in law is insistent on wanting it at like 4 (and my dad's new wife wants it at like 2 ok thanksgiving).
那天早上我一般会做得讲究点，比如班尼迪克蛋（eggs Benedict）或者法式咸派（quiche）。早餐我常配含羞草鸡尾酒（mimosas），不过那只有圣诞早上才是"强制项目"。午饭一般吃得很轻。我偏爱照常6点吃晚饭，但我婆婆坚持要4点左右吃（而我爸的新老婆想2点就吃，行吧感恩节快乐）。
Typical dishes - main is almost always turkey, though sometimes I can talk my way into ham because I don't especially like turkey. I'll usually brine it then smoke it, I typically cook the stuffing/dressing separately. For that I alternate between a bread/veggies/herbs/bacon stuffing and an oyster stuffing. I'll usually then make one additional "starch" (potatoes, yams, rolls) and two vegetables (carrots+cranberries, cranberry compote, roasted root veggies, etc). Separate from the veggies, I really like sauerkraut with turkey, it's apparently a Mid-Atlantic/Baltimore thing and many think I'm weird, but I do the cooking so I get it!
常规菜——主菜几乎永远是火鸡，不过有时候我能说动大家改吃火腿，因为我不太爱吃火鸡。我一般先腌再熏，填料我通常单独做。填料我在两种之间轮换：面包/蔬菜/香草/培根填料和牡蛎填料。然后我一般再加一样"主食"（土豆、山药、小餐包）和两样蔬菜（胡萝卜+蔓越莓、蔓越莓蜜饯、烤根茎菜等等）。跟蔬菜分开说，我特喜欢火鸡配酸菜（sauerkraut），据说是大西洋中部/巴尔的摩那一带的吃法，很多人觉得我有病，但饭是我做的，我说了算！
Desserts I'll usually do 1-2, often at least one pie. Pumpkin pie is traditional but I don't like it, so I only make it about every other year. Otherwise chocolate pie, apple pie, sweet potato pie, assorted cookies, maybe chocolate covered toffee ... Or birthday cake. Thanksgiving can occur any day between 22 November and 28 November, and we have family members with birthdays on 22, 28, and 29 November. Some years, we do their birthday cake as a Thanksgiving dessert. This brings up another goofy tradition - if Thanksgiving is actually on a birthday, I'll sometimes bring the turkey to the table with birthday candles in it.
甜点我一般做一到两样，通常至少有一个派。南瓜派是传统但我不爱吃，所以大概隔一年才做一次。其他时候是巧克力派、苹果派、红薯派、各种饼干，可能还有巧克力裹太妃糖……或者生日蛋糕。感恩节可能落在11月22日到28日之间的任何一天，而我家有人生日在11月22日、28日和29日。有些年份，我们就把他们的生日蛋糕当感恩节甜点。这还引出另一个逗比传统——如果感恩节正好撞上某人生日，我有时会把插着生日蜡烛的火鸡端上桌。
Leftovers are important too. We don't do it often, but if I have time Friday I'll turn the carcass into soup. Smoked turkey soup is a different flavor profile and very enjoyable.
剩菜也很重要。我们不常弄，但如果周五有空，我会把鸡架子煮成汤。熏火鸡汤是另一种风味，特别好喝。
I've never been much of a sports guy, but watching football is important for a lot of families (my teams are usually playing the day after). My wife's family likes to watch the parades on TV.
我从来不是什么体育迷，但看橄榄球对很多家庭来说很重要（我支持的球队一般第二天才比赛）。我老婆家喜欢在电视上看游行。
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Hungry-Ambassador-84 · 2026-08-18 11:05
It’s just us. We live too far from family (abt 12 hours drive), so I make the whole spread for a family of 5.
就我们自己。我们住得离家人太远（开车差不多12小时），所以我要给一家五口做全席。
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, baked corn, dinner rolls, gravy, canned cranberry sauce and homemade cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie and chocolate cream pie.
火鸡、填料、土豆泥、青豆焗烤、烤玉米、餐包、肉汁、罐装蔓越莓酱加自制蔓越莓酱。南瓜派和巧克力奶油派。
I make it all the day of, with the exception of prepping bread for stuffing, that gets done the night before.
全都是当天做，除了给填料备面包，那是前一天晚上弄的。
Start cooking around 9am, we’re eating by 3, and then it’s leftovers for DAYS.
早上9点左右开做，下午3点开吃，然后剩菜能吃好几天。
We don’t really “celebrate” Thanksgiving in the traditional way. We just like the excuse to eat a bunch of delicious food 🤷🏼♀️
我们其实不太按传统方式"过"感恩节。我们就是找个借口狂炫一堆好吃的 🤷🏼♀️
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amyn2511 · 2026-08-18 11:06
I used to cook like crazy leading up, we usually have two different celebrations to go to. Now I struggle with mobility so a few weeks ahead I place an order for a few homemade pies from a local diner and pick them up the day before thanksgiving. I might make a couple of simple side dishes if I have a good day.
我以前节前疯狂下厨，我们通常要赶两场不同的聚餐。现在我行动不便，所以提前几周从本地小饭馆订几个手工派，感恩节前一天去取。状态好的话我可能再做两个简单配菜。
When I was a small child my mom would host and one year she over cooked the turkey and everyone else cancelled last minute so she said that we (her, dad, me, my brother) ate dry turkey for a few days and she swore she’d never do thanksgiving again. So we used to get Chinese takeout every year (the only thing open), watch football, and put up our Christmas tree.
我小时候我妈做东，有一年她把火鸡烤过头了，其他人又临时全放了鸽子，她说我们（她、我爸、我、我哥）连着吃了好几天干巴巴的火鸡，她发誓这辈子再也不办感恩节了。所以那几年我们每年都是叫中餐外卖（唯一开门的），看橄榄球，摆圣诞树。
Other than that it looks like shuffling from different celebrations, eating too much, and visiting with family
除此之外就是在不同聚餐之间赶场，吃撑，跟家人聚聚。
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BeerForThought · 2026-08-18 11:06
No one is talking about deep fried turkeys. They got popular in the South and now people all over the US ditch the oven for a moister bird. My job is to[fry the turkey](https://youtube.com/shorts/3xAQuXsV_N4?si=3QoIaCqMNrxS90mE) and not let [this happen.](https://youtu.be/HvMyRW3DRQs?si=NDNCQyWnqPP_oz40) Last Thanksgiving I cooked 6 turkeys for family friends and neighbors plus one for my family. Overall it is safe as long as you watch your beer intake throughout the day.
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2seriousmouse · 2026-08-18 11:07
I think for a lot of people it’s pretty similar to what you see in the movies. It’s not an exaggeration. It’s literally the biggest travel holiday of the year - meaning there’s A LOT of people on the road to and from their holiday meal destination. Plus there’s a ton of people flying. Public schools, universities, offices and majority of stores are closed.
我觉得对很多人来说，跟电影里看到的差不多，没夸张。这真的是一年中出行量最大的节日——意思是有巨多人在往返聚餐目的地的路上。还有一大堆人坐飞机。公立学校、大学、办公室和大多数商店都关门。
At home, most people I grew up with, worked with, went to school with, etc. did traditional thanksgiving days/meals with their families. Turkey, side dishes, desserts. Of course some folks put their own cultural spin on it too. And if you’re alone or a couple, it’s nice to get invited to other people’s thanksgiving dinners.
在家里，我从小一起长大的、共事的、上学的那些人，大多数都是跟家人过传统的感恩节、吃传统大餐。火鸡、配菜、甜点。当然有些人也会加点自己文化的特色。如果你是一个人或者小两口，被邀请去别人家吃感恩节晚餐是很暖的事。
It’s a great holiday. I love my once a year cranberry sauce and stuffing!
这节日很棒。我爱我这一年一度的蔓越莓酱和填料！
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Technical-Tear5841 · 2026-08-18 11:07
My wife would start preparing on Wednesday and Thursday morning start cooking everything. The standard turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls, apple and pumpkin pie. Usually my four children would be there and we would line up to serve ourselves. One year our large dog saw us and decided he would join in, he grabbed his food bowl in his mouth and got at the back of the line. Of course he got some turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. Happy dog.
我老婆周三开始准备，周四早上开始做所有的菜。标配是火鸡、土豆泥、红薯焗烤、青豆、小餐包、苹果派和南瓜派。通常我四个孩子都在，我们排队自己打饭。有一年我们的大狗看见了，决定也来凑热闹，叼着自己的饭盆排到了队尾。当然它也分到了火鸡、土豆泥和肉汁。幸福的狗子。
That was years ago, the dog is gone, my wife does not feel like doing big dinners anymore. Fortunately my younger daughter lived close and she loves to cook. We make a few dishes to take and she provides the rest. She does not have a large home so she divides the relatives, my wife and I eat first and my son in law's family members come two hours later.
那是好些年前了，狗没了，我老婆也不想再办大餐了。幸好我小女儿住得近，而且她爱做饭。我们做几个菜带过去，剩下的她来出。她家房子不大，所以把亲戚分批招待——我和老婆先吃，女婿的家人两小时后再来。
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Sensitive_Hat_9871 · 2026-08-18 11:08
We have a blended extended family. The 'core' members are my stepmother (78 years old - my dad died years ago), in whose house we meet, and 4 siblings/step siblings and our spouses (ranging in our 50's to early 70's). Then add in children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, great-grandchildren, one or two stray people without families of their own, and now you have in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 people on average.
我们是个重组的大家庭。"核心"成员是我继母（78岁——我爸多年前去世了），聚会就在她家，加上4个兄弟姐妹/继兄弟姐妹和我们的配偶（年纪从50多到70出头）。再加上孩子们和他们的配偶、孙辈和他们的配偶、曾孙辈，外加一两个没自己家的"编外人员"，平均下来差不多25到30人。
The basement of her home is a large open space, finished, and has a separate kitchen area (stove, refrigerator, microwave and sink). There is a large table, as well as extra folding tables and chairs to accommodate everyone.
她家地下室是个装修好的大开放空间，带独立厨房区（炉灶、冰箱、微波炉和水槽）。有一张大桌子，还有备用的折叠桌椅来容纳所有人。
Step-mom cooks and serves turkey and ham, and provides the various jellies and other condiments. The rest of us coordinate and bring a variety of side dishes. Each of us brings our 'specialty' whether it's some sort of vegetable, bread, or dessert. We use disposable tableware (plates, cups, eating utensiles) since washing up for 30 people would take forever, let alone the fact she doesn't have enough tableware to serve that many people at once.
继母负责做和端上火鸡跟火腿，并提供各种果酱和其他调味品。我们其他人协调着带各种配菜。每个人都带自己的"拿手菜"，不管是某种蔬菜、面包还是甜点。我们用一次性餐具（盘子、杯子、刀叉），因为给30个人洗碗要洗到天荒地老，更别说她根本没有够同时招待这么多人的餐具。
People arrive an hour or so before the appointed time to visit and help set up. When the meal begins one of my siblings says a prayer. Then we all dig in, followed by much chomping and not a lot of talk. After dessert is finished we all pitch in to clear the table, fold up tables/chairs and put them back into storage, linger a bit, then one by one say our goodbyes and leave.
大家在约定时间前一小时左右到，聊聊天帮着布置。开饭时我的一个兄弟姐妹做个祷告。然后全体开动，接着就是一片埋头干饭，没什么人说话。甜点吃完后大家一起收拾桌子，把折叠桌椅收起来放回去，再磨蹭一会儿，然后一个个道别离开。
Thanksgiving is one of the few times each year we all get together, the other times being Christmas and Easter, so we definitely look forward to it.
感恩节是一年中我们全家聚齐的少数几次之一，另外就是圣诞节和复活节，所以我们都很期待。
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sluttypidge · 2026-08-18 11:14
A ham, Green beans, baked potatoes/sweet potatoes, corn, bread rolls, "pink stuff", pumpkin pie, pecan pie.
一只火腿、青豆、烤土豆/红薯、玉米、面包卷、"粉色糊糊（pink stuff）"、南瓜派、山核桃派。
Sides may vary.
配菜可能有变化。
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SnoozuRN · 2026-08-18 11:16
In my family we all bring a dish, eat and just spend time together. The adults usually end up playing cards. It is really a pre-Christmas because we eat the same foods for Christmas. Now that I'm an adult the thought of the actual holiday is so cringe, knowing what was actially done to Native Americans and the bullshit that we were taught in school about it.
我家是大家各带一个菜，吃饭，就是聚在一起。大人们最后通常打牌。这其实像个"圣诞预热"，因为我们圣诞吃的也是这些。现在我成年了，一想到这个节日本身就觉得膈应——知道了当年对美洲原住民（Native Americans）真实干下的事，还有学校里教我们的那些鬼话。
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PsychologyGuilty1460 · 2026-08-18 11:16
You get all your shopping done the weekend before Thanksgiving or it gets too crazy. There is nothing left in the grocery stores on Wednesday evening at all LOL.
所有采购得在感恩节前的周末搞定，不然就太疯狂了。周三晚上超市里真的啥都不剩 LOL。
First thing in the morning you put the giblets neck etc in the Crock-Pot to make stock for Turkey gravy, And you get this turkey seasoned And ready to go in the oven. And you kind of half watch the Macy's parade at the same time, To see the floats.
一大早先把鸡杂、脖子之类扔进慢炖锅（Crock-Pot）熬高汤做火鸡肉汁，然后把火鸡调好味准备进烤箱。同时有一搭没一搭地看梅西百货（Macy's）游行，看看花车。
Once the turkey's in the oven you've got about 4 hours to get the rest done: Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, Sweet potatoes or candied yams, dinner rolls and corn muffins, honey butter, cranberry sauce, salad, appetizers- shrimp cocktail and deviled eggs, sometimes a dip with chips and veggies, cheese ball with crackers- and a relish tray, which is a divided platter with several kinds of pickles, stuffed olives, radishes, And several kinds of stuffed celery, pimento cheese, cream cheese and peanut butter are standard.
火鸡一进烤箱，你就剩差不多4小时搞定剩下的：青豆焗烤、土豆泥、红薯或糖渍山药、餐包和玉米玛芬、蜂蜜黄油、蔓越莓酱、沙拉、开胃菜——鲜虾鸡尾酒杯和魔鬼蛋，有时候有蘸酱配薯片和蔬菜、芝士球配饼干——还有腌菜拼盘（relish tray），就是一个分格大盘子，装几种腌菜、酿橄榄、小萝卜，还有几种酿芹菜，甜椒芝士、奶油芝士和花生酱是标配。
We always had at least two pies and carrot pudding- Old family recipe "From the old country", probably Germany, a steamed spiced cake made with grated carrots, raisins and potatoes.
我们家永远至少有两个派加胡萝卜布丁——祖传老方子，"来自旧大陆"，估计是德国，一种用胡萝卜丝、葡萄干和土豆做的蒸香料蛋糕。
The appetizers are put out To snack on while everything is cooking because it's a looong time before dinner, everything else goes on the table including the relish tray. There may be grapes and other fruits depending on what the salad is.
开胃菜先摆出来给大家边做边垫，因为离正餐还有老长时间；其他所有东西到时候都上桌，包括腌菜拼盘。可能还有葡萄和其他水果，取决于沙拉是什么。
It's a pretty laidback day, but the last hour gets really hectic while you're mashing potatoes and making gravy and carving the turkey and trying to bake the rolls and casseroles after the turkeys done.
这一天整体挺悠闲，但最后一小时特别兵荒马乱——你要捣土豆泥、调肉汁、切火鸡，还得在火鸡出炉后赶紧烤小餐包和焗烤菜。
There's usually wine or cocktails by that time though!
不过到那会儿一般已经有葡萄酒或鸡尾酒了！
And after that there's coffee, dessert and food coma. Not necessarily in that order.
再往后就是咖啡、甜点和饭困昏迷。不一定按这个顺序。
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sapphireminds · 2026-08-18 11:17
Thanksgiving is my biggest family holiday. We always have the same meal. We will add some things, but the basics are always there:
感恩节是我家最大的家庭节日。我们永远吃同样的饭。会加些东西，但基本款永远在：
Before the meal: veggies and dip - lots of carrots needed because I am a carrot fiend and other people want carrots too LOL
饭前：蔬菜配蘸酱——胡萝卜得备足了，因为我是胡萝卜狂魔，别人也要吃 LOL
She used to make scotch eggs, (even with homemade sausage) which I miss now that she doesn't have a deep fryer)
她以前还做苏格兰蛋（scotch eggs，连香肠都是自己灌的），现在她没有油炸锅了，我挺想念的
Rotisserie cooked turkey, coated during cooking with Lowry's season salt. We use a faberware indoor rotisserie grill that was made in the 70s-80s and is no longer made, so my family buys them off ebay for parts for when motors inevitably break down. (https://www.ebay.com/itm/306913269245?chn=ps&google\_free\_listing\_action=view\_item) My sister and I each have three working motors, just in case our current motors break. While it is cooking, everyone adds to the salt crust. We also are know to take forks and scrape a little salt off while it's cooking to snack. I particularly like to suck on the string that was keeping the turkey together on the spit and is crusted with salt with turkey flavor
Mashed potatoes. We're of Irish descent, so a meal isn't a meal without potatoes ;)
土豆泥。我们是爱尔兰后裔，一顿饭没有土豆就不算一顿饭 ;)
Gravy homemade from the drippings
用烤盘滴下来的油自制的肉汁
Stuffing - cooked separately, I really like my Dad's, because my sister (who hosts thanksgiving now) likes to get fancy, and I like basic stuffing that isn't too wet.
填料——单独做，我真爱我爸做的，因为我姐（现在感恩节在她家办）喜欢搞花活，而我喜欢不湿哒哒的基础款填料。
Cranberry-orange relish - homemade, we have a hand grinder to grind all the ingredients. My mom or sister usually make it, it's cranberries, sugar, and citrus. It used to be oranges and lemons, but now they use clementines I believe.
蔓越莓橙子开胃酱——自制的，我们有个手动研磨器把所有材料磨碎。通常是我妈或我姐做，材料是蔓越莓、糖和柑橘。以前用橙子和柠檬，现在好像是用小蜜橘（clementines）。
Bread of some form.
某种面包。
Either brussels sprouts or green bean casserole (I prefer the brussels sprouts)
抱子甘蓝或青豆焗烤二选一（我投抱子甘蓝）
We eat around 2 or 3, watching something we all like (The office, parks and Rec, Ted Lasso - this year it's going to be Schmigadoon!)
我们下午两三点开吃，边看大家都爱的剧（《办公室》《公园与游憩》《足球教练》——今年要看《Schmigadoon!》）
My dad writes little cute poems for special occasions and so for the last 10-20 years, he started writing one for our family as a toast. It's funny because whenever people hear my dad's poems (in christmas cards every year too) they assume my mom writes it, but it's all him. They are always touching.
我爸会给特殊场合写可爱的小诗，过去这一二十年，他开始给我们家写一首当祝酒词。搞笑的是，别人听到我爸的诗（每年圣诞贺卡上也有）都以为是我妈写的，其实全是他写的。他的诗永远很戳心。
We eat pretty quickly, without a lot of conversation, as we're all focused on the food, then we laze around for a while before playing games - usually a card game, but it could also be rummikub. Card games usually involve some sort of gambling, but we rarely play poker anymore (we used to play poker every week after sunday dinner LOL) Usually it's 31, Garbage, or Gin rummy.
我们吃得很快，不怎么聊天，因为都在专心干饭，然后瘫一会儿再玩游戏——一般是纸牌，也可能玩拉密牌（rummikub）。纸牌通常带点赌，但我们现在很少打扑克了（以前每周日晚饭后都打 LOL）。一般玩31点、垃圾牌（Garbage）或金拉米（Gin rummy）。
It's the only family holiday we really celebrate :)
这是我们唯一真正过的家庭节日 :)
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meenadu · 2026-08-18 11:22
It’s just like the movies. We cook for days, eat for a half an hour and then clean up for 3 hours. It’s the worst. I don’t do it anymore.
跟电影里一模一样。做好几天，吃半小时，然后收拾3小时。太遭罪了。我不伺候了。