Essentially someone I know (F26), moved to London about 4 years ago, and I noticed they seemed a little down lately, and I’m pretty sure it’s because they miss their family and didn’t/ couldn’t return for thanksgiving. I’m not sure you gave presents on thanksgiving? But what is something sentimental and homely reminiscent I could get for her? She’s from NY if that changes anything. Thanks!
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Thanksgiving doesn’t come with gifts, but inviting then over for a potluck dinner or just making an attempt to be extra social would be nice. Most of the foods associated with thanksgiving are either labor intensive or hard to come by in the UK so your mileage may vary on that front.
Thanksgiving is really more about friends and family than anything else.
No gifts.
Thanksgiving is about spending time with the people you care about. Spend time with her, or take her out with friends, have a good time.
A meal is nice but not necessary. Do you guys do the “Sunday roast” we always here about? If so, that’ll work!
when I’ve been away from family for holidays, the best thing is to be around people. get some friends together and do whatever you guys do for fun. go to the bar, go on a little day trip, go to dinner, have a game night, whatever. anything that gets that person socializing so they don’t feel alone.
A hug?
Invite her over for dinner.
This is so lovely and thoughtful. I agree with the other responses that being around people will help.
Someone else mentioned a potluck. “Friendsgiving” potlucks are becoming popular here: someone hosts, and everyone brings a dish to pass (doesn’t have to be traditional Thanksgiving food). The majority of Americans celebrate with family on Thanksgiving day, so Friendsgiving is a way to extend the holiday to other loved ones.
Gifts aren’t really a thing for Thanksgiving.
Invite her over for dinner or see if she wants to go out and get some food somewhere.
It is nice that you are thinking about her struggling in a foreign country.
Thank you for all the answers, sorry if I’m slow to reply but I’ll get round to all you lovely folk
As an American, if someone brought me a pumpkin pie, I’d be really touched. It’s such a symbol of thanksgiving, and even though I never loved it when I was there, now that I’m in the UK, I really miss it. They’re not easy to come by (in Wales at least) and I SUCK at making them.
Invite them over for dinner and spend time with them.
The gift thing is kinda not in the spirit of the day.
I think get a group together and either make an American Thanksgiving dinner happen for her or go to one of many London restaurants that offer Thanksgiving dinners. I had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant in the Shard last year while on a trip with my SO.
Thanksgiving is a time to tell the people in your life you are thankful for them. Tell her how thankful you are that she is a part of your team and mention a couple specific things she does you appreciate. Gratitude is one of the best gifts you can give anyone.
A phone call or a visit. Wr don’t normally give presents on Thanksgiving unless it’s a hostess gift . Just ask her if she’d like to take a walk together or go to a coffee shop to sit and chat. Otherwise take her out to lunch or dinner. She may be lonely, so just spending time is the best.
Maybe, if there is a way to gauge if she lonely. Some holidays can be depressing for people if the don’t have people around they care about
Ps. Thank you for thinking about Someone from a different country.
You have lots of good answers but Thanksgiving really is just about being thankful.
Maybe a nice note/card to go with a home-baked/cooked food?
I read over some of the other suggestions and your feedback. You’re very sweet and considerate to do this!
Most of Thanksgiving is a “combination meal.” We like the individual dishes… but eating them all together is what makes them nostalgic. It’s funny… because people don’t even particularly *love* the food. We really only eat it for the one holiday.
The one area where you can get away from that is dessert. Traditional baked dishes, especially fruit-based pies (pumpkin, apple, cherry, and pecan are all the most popular) would be nostalgically accurate. Really anything sweet, baked, and rustic is appropriate if it is a traditional recipe from your family.
We don’t really give gifts for this holiday. It’s really about knowing that you have friends or family nearby. It’s very common in the US to invite anyone who is alone or from another country to your Thanksgiving dinner. Seriously, it can be strange (it is even strange behavior for us the rest of the year) – but I would invite any coworker, associate, or friend to my Thanksgiving if they didn’t have plans.
The philosophy is just “no one should spend Thanksgiving alone.”
I think you could also just give her a thoughtful note and that would mean a lot. A small sweet treat, or a funny little toy (anything reminiscent of a turkey, cornucopia, or pilgrim would be instantly associated) would be remind her of Thanksgiving. You could get a little plush chicken and make a joke about Turkeys not being popular enough for toys in England.
But, mostly, she probably just feels a little isolated. So whatever little gesture you can make to make her feel like she isn’t alone on an island… that is the best gift.
Whatever it is… do it quickly. Thanksgiving is really just this week and maybe a bit into next… and then we’re on to thinking about Christmas.
Sounds like you’re trying to date her and using Thanksgiving as your “in”? Sorry.
> But what is something sentimental and homely reminiscent I could get for her?
Your company.
Along with a roast dinner, a hand turkey.
Every American kid [makes these before Thanksgiving at school.](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/thanksgiving-ideas/g29194874/how-to-make-hand-turkey/)
All you need is paper and crayons. 🙂 You can make them together. I think it would be cute to do! Or you can just make her one as a Happy Thanksgiving card.
Take them out kayaking until you run into a large boulder, bonus points if you escape the persecution of the Anglican Church
Turkey or Pies (mainly pumpkin or pecan) are both very traditional american thanksgiving foods. A lot of it is going to just be missing family since it’s a huge family holiday in the states. That said, the food might go a ways to ease the homesickness.
Do you do Sunday supper? A traditional Sunday supper isn’t that different from Thanksgiving.
Drink too much and argue about the skin color of a Disney princess. That’ll bring Thanksgiving home.
Draw her a turkey by tracing your hand. She will burst into tears and love you forever. Bonus
points for using brown construction paper.
(Anyone who went to kindergarten in the US knows what’s up with that.)
Invite them over, have a sit down meal. Break open a glass of wine and just have a good evening.
That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.
Tell them they’re too fat/thin, ask when they’re going to get married and have kids, and start yelling conspiracy theories after you’ve had a glass of wine too many
As an American foodie, I don’t like turkey. I’d say make or go out with this person for a nice meal, have nice time, share some personal stuff, have a drink or three. That’s thanksgiving to me.