The thanksgiving ritual at my table

[Brainstormy]

begins with my announcement that those who wish to may bow their heads and say their prayer. My husband and I bow ours, too, in order (as they know) to mock them in silence. It works for us, but I realize that I have a very open-minded clan. And that may be one of the things I'm most thankful for, this year and every year. Fortunately, we sll lean VERY left, politically, so once the creepy religious stuff is over, there's lots of unanimous moaning and groaning.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[procon]

1. My family has no religious background, so it's basically, "Come and get it!"

My sister married a very devout man and subsequently got coopted. She always puts on a bit of a melodrama at family get togethers, clamoring about prayer in the midst of a cacophony of loud table talk about the food. Lost Thanksgiving when she spouted off, my nephew piped up and said, "Sure, go right ahead, but pass me the mashed potatoes and gravy."

There was a brief moment of silence before everyone else started chatting and laughing, and passing dishes all around, ignoring my pickle-puss sibling's sour glares.

[Brainstormy]

6. LOL

sounds like you've found a way through it! Good for the nephew!

[DangerousUrNot]

2. Thats awesome

I wish my family was open when it comes to religion. I think I’m the only atheist. My dad might be but I’m not sure. Politically we all lean left. Hope you have a good Thanksgiving.

[Brainstormy]

4. If you're like-minded politically

I think there's hope. These days it seems that politics is as divisive as religion. So at least there's that. I'm still hoping my hold-outs come around in terms of religion. Don't give up!

[Mr.Bill]

3. I've been known to say the Bart Simpson Thanksgiving grace:

Dear god, we paid for all this food ourselves so thanks for nothing.

[Brainstormy]

5. Actually I remember that!

funny. But, while I'm an atheist, I'm still grateful to a lot of folks for all they enable me to enjoy. And then there's the turkey, who sacrificed all! Happy Thanksgiving.

[Mr.Bill]

7. Seriously, what we do

is go around the table and each person says something they are thankful for in the past year. No one in my family is very religious, a few I would describe as Agnostics. Nobody attends church. We don't even use churches for weddings or funerals.

[Brainstormy]

9. I think that's a lovely ritual

you don't have to be religious to be grateful or appreciative of the good things that have come your way. To me, that's the very essence of the holiday. (and your family sounds wonderfully rational. It must be great)

[blueinredohio]

8. Sad to say but I'm just glad to get it over with

[Brainstormy]

10. I'm sad, too

that you have to say that. Holidays sometimes can be stressful. And we way over-infest in them.

[Voltaire2]

11. No religious nonsense at all.

I grew up atheist so obviously no bullshit on my side, my wife was raised Jewish but thanksgiving was always a secular feast in her family too.

[Brainstormy]

12. You can't POSSIBLY know

how lucky you are! Spending your entire adult life dumping religious nonsense is not only stressful but ridiculously time-consuming.