My family goes with the noontime meal choice because of tradition more than anything else. There was a time the men spent the morning in the field quail hunting so they were ready to eat at noon. Time for the meal and the fellowship so those who wanted to could go back out hunting. Others hung around to watch whatever football game was on TV.
I have a different perspective. The Thanksgivings I spent in Vermont ski country, 4PM was very nice. The hostess was quite happy to do everything with no “help” while everyone was on the slopes. But except for that, 2PM (or so) is very nice. It gives those who are so inclined time to take a walk after over-eating.
Now you have more flexibility without that football to get in the way.
My Vermont raised wife says dinner is after the hunters return home.
We generally eat Thanksgiving dinner around 2 PM - gives time for some appetite-whetting snacking and then time to allow the pressure to relieve for a nice dessert later on...Got two turkeys in the oven as I type.
We are eating later than my family usually ate traditionally which was about 3pm. My son works in retail and the store closes at 4 pm Thanksgiving Day.
This terminology is regional preference. I grew up in the South, and the “noon meal” IS “dinner”, and we eat “Supper” in the evening.
Somehow, “Thanksgiving LUNCH” just doesn’t sound right.
So, I looked it up:
dinner
n. The chief meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday.
n. A banquet or formal meal in honor of a person or event.
n.The food prepared for either of these meals.
Noon is best...Going with a group of 13 family and friends to a casino thanksgiving buffet...No hassles,no dishes,just food and good times...Then I can gamble...
I’m good with dropping in on some folks at noon and different folks at 4. I’m not particular.
Anyone who feels a need to declare that “there is only one correct” answer to an opinion question is an utter moron. The correct time is: when it suits those cooking and eating it. Everything else is irrelevant, and sanctimonious fools who feel a certain need to be the arbiter of “The Only Correct One” can go stuff themselves, along with the turkey.
Good points. I will add, it is far healthier to eat the main meal at noon. Eating late in the day is a good way to pack on the fat and toss around in bed trying to sleep at night. Growing up, we always had the main meal at noon and the leftovers around 6 pm. In the summer when work was waiting, we often went back out and worked till dark doing those jobs that “Americans won’t do.” Happy Thanksgiving. I just returned from Kings Bay, if you know where that is.
Here in Colorado we will be breaking out the appetizers around 10:30 while my SIL watches the Lion’s game. Dinner will be “around” 2pm. It is supposed to be a beautiful day here in Colorado so after dinner we will go for a walk and take the kids to the playground. Apple and pumpkin pies, if anyone is still hungry, will be served after our trip to the park.
I am from RI so my daughter and I do eat the home made cranberry sauce. If I could only get people to eat mince pie.
I love cranberry sauce...especially on the leftovers!
Try making it with horseradish for some extra flavor.
Arrive at noon, eat at 1pm/1:30pm, depending on when all the food is ready and is on the table. Some folks leave at 2:30/3pm to go visit others. No politics as this is a day of unity not divisiveness.
Sorry but gotta say this. Great! Another asshat telling me how to conduct my life. Bugger off.
4 pm is when our family has always had Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas and Easter dinner as well. I always thought it had something to do with football.
2pm
I found out yesterday that the inlaws scheduled Thanksgiving for 1 PM. Sounds like Brunch to me.
I’m in favor of the later meal as it allows Liberal minded relatives who have pets to take care of at home a chance to eat and get lost before the sun goes down or the political talks begin.
That's what they call those meals in Oklahoma--and probably Ohio as well. A girl I knew who was born in Ohio called the noon and evening meals dinner and supper, respectively.
The writer is incorrect and a self-centered boob to boot. There is NOT “only one correct time” to eat a Thanksgiving meal.
That’s all. Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family and friends (I hope).