5 amazing things about Thanksgiving weekend that we miss out on in the UK

Unless you have American friends or relatives, there’s a good chance your Thanksgiving experience is limited to one episode of a US sitcom. But if you’re a fan of long weekends, big meals and professional athletes forced to brave the cold for your entertainment, it may be worth marking the fourth Thursday in November on your calendar. If you plan to play along at home this weekend, here are the five best things about Thanksgiving in the US of A, conveniently all beginning with the letter F.

Festivities

If you’ve been following the NFL this year, you’ll have noticed that oversized mascots are a way of life for our American cousins, and Thanksgiving is no exception. The day begins for many with enormous parades, complete with gargantuan inflatables and extensively decorated floats, taking place in many cities. The larger ones have serious investment from corporate sponsors, so with time differences, they’re worth viewing at more sociable hours in the UK. At least until the Greggs Thanksgiving Parade in Newcastle takes off. 

Family time

Just like our own festive period, this earlier holiday sees many Americans returning to where they grew up, figuring the quality and volume of home cooking outweigh any chance encounter with that high school friend who appears to now work full-time tagging people in memes on social media. The highlight for many families is the backyard game of (American, obviously) Football – an annual opportunity to re-live past sporting glories, or be humiliated by a big hit from Grandma. Worth getting this one done before tackles carry the risk of turkey re-emergence.                                                                                             

Food

The Super Bowl may not be until early next year, but what better way to prepare than with the Mega Plate? Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to work on your digestion game. Americans take this one seriously, many choosing to cook their bird in a dedicated turkey fryer, with side dishes that are hand-crafted for maximum calorific value: sour cream and cheese mashed potato, sugar glazed carrots, butter-pecan topped sweet potatoes… even green beans are done with added bacon. For anyone needing an extra nudge towards their afternoon food coma, there’s usually a pecan pie or dessert featuring toasted marshmallow frosting on standby. 

Football

Premier League fans are familiar with the blend of enjoyment and guilt that accompanies watching finely-tuned athletes do battle, while we struggle to digest a meal the size of the match ball. The NFL continues its own fixtures through this earlier holiday, and watching with the family is very much part of the occasion. UK fans have an extra incentive to enjoy this weekend’s fixtures, with a weekly NFL Gamepass available for the Thanksgiving special price of £2.99: http://nflgamepass.com/en/Thanksgiving

Friday Shopping

Although not a federal holiday, many states and businesses give the day after Thanksgiving as vacation, and retailers have turned this to their advantage. Black Friday has become the biggest annual shopping day in the US, and the offer-frenzy seems to be making its way across the Atlantic. Thank(sgiving)fully, most discounts also make their way online, so you can avoid the line of scrimmage in a department store technology section and upgrade to an even bigger TV for the next turkey-fuelled viewing binge in a few weeks.