How do atheists handle Thanksgiving?

[Wiccan_Child]

I am thankful that I survived Thanksgiving dinner with my family.

Apparently, in one sitting, the average American has TWO days worth of food. Two!

Come now, are you even trying to shed your stereotypes

 

[Mling]

Christians thank God for things like happy healthy children and lots of turkey leftovers. Who do atheists thank and what are they thankful for?

The people themselves. We show our family and friends that we appreciate them.

 

[seeeagren]

You don't need to have a god to be thankful for things.

 

[dewaddict84]

How do atheists handle Thanksgiving?

We traveled to family and ate some turkey, duh.

Who do atheists thank and what are they thankful for?

Well the official toast was "To family and [something something] health". There was a lot of cheers and glass tinking, so it wasn't entirely clear.

 

[Mling]

I really would like the OP to come back and respond to these: why did you think it needed to be asked? Did you think that atheists are not capable of gratitude? Or that gratitude is not possible without a god?

 

[keith99]

I don't do Thanksgiving, obviously, but why would one need to be thankful towards anyone in particular? Why not just be thankful in general?

Hmm,

You point out the obvious that many Americans igonre. Thanksgiving is a purely American Holiday.

So I will thank the State for creating a Holiday that gives me 2 days off work!

As an agnostic I will thank whatever god might exist for sparing me the company of a certian type of Christian on Thanksgiving. (Not all Christians by any means, just a certian type).

 

[Beechwell]

You point out the obvious that many Americans igonre. Thanksgiving is a purely American Holiday.

That's not so obvious. In Germany - and I am sure in other European countries as well - we celebrate Thanksgiving (German Erntedank - lit. "Harvest Thanks") end of September/beginning October.
Granted, it doesn't have anything to do with native Americans, and is a very minor date, not even part of the official church calendar; but it does exist.

 

[keith99]

That's not so obvious. In Germany - and I am sure in other European countries as well - we celebrate Thanksgiving (German Erntedank - lit. "Harvest Thanks") end of September/beginning October.
Granted, it doesn't have anything to do with native Americans, and is a very minor date, not even part of the official church calendar; but it does exist.

I would disagree, similar is not the same. This is no more Thanksgiving than Cinco de Mayo is the 4th of July.

 

[Belk]

Christians thank God for things like happy healthy children and lots of turkey leftovers. Who do atheists thank and what are they thankful for?

I thank the random fluctuations of the universe for allowing me to drink beer.

 

[Ryal Kane]

I suppose our best equivalent here in New Zealand would be Christmas.
Families get together, exchange gifts, share meals and (ideally) relax.

The fact that all of my close family is non religious never really comes up.

Some people seem to have the idea that atheists and secularists have an extreme allergy to all forms of religion and expect us to hiss like vampires at the sight of a cross.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Some people seem to have the idea that atheists and secularists have an extreme allergy to all forms of religion and expect us to hiss like vampires at the sight of a cross.

You mean you don't?

 

[Cute Tink]

I was thinking of hissing at the next cross I see.

I generally state that I'm thankful for my wonderful wife and my fantastic children on Thanksgiving.

I am also wondering what brought on the topic. I don't get why we atheists should have such a problem with Thanksgiving. I would love to hear from the starter on such things.

 

[Beechwell]

I would disagree, similar is not the same. This is no more Thanksgiving than Cinco de Mayo is the 4th of July.

Sure, it's debatable. And I may be wrong about the American Thanksgiving, but I always thought it also was at its core a day to thank for a good harvest, with the Pilgrims/Natives thing just attached to it. Is that incorrect?

 

[Ezio Auditore di Firenze]

You know what the staple of the first Thanksgivings were? Eel pies.