An American Thanksgiving in Hong Kong

As you know, there is no Thanksgiving in Hong Kong. Obviously.  It is a normal work day. After Halloween, which is a big deal here, it goes directly to Christmas decorations.  Christmas is a huge deal here. I think by mid November all the malls have there displays up and christmas music playing.  It is funny because they have completely separated the secular holiday from the religious one. So everyone it seems is into Christmas.

Thanksgiving though is one of those times were it painly obivous that we are not in the US or North Carolina anymore. It is I think the biggest difference you notice living here.  It was the biggest one we noticed.  No Turkey Trot, no parade, no leave changing, no Macy's parade, no football. More than that, no collective sense of holiday.  From thousands of miles away, I have noticed that this one holiday, Thanksgiving, is maybe one of a few that all Americans, no matter what religion, race or creed, share.  In a way, it is one of those defining characteristics of being American.

But there is thanksgiving food here.  Even though it is not a holiday, it is very easy to get the food though at the stores: turkey, stuffing mix, cranberrries, pretty much anything you would want for your thanksgiving meal. So that part is fine. And since it is mostly about food, I suppose ok.

Another thing I noticed was that some American expats here kinda of give up on the holiday after a while. Not sure why. I feel like it's giving up on being American to some degree.

So this year, we were invited to be a part of Katy's friend Katherine's Thanksgiving dinner.  She invited several people over on Thanksgiving evening. She lives in the same apartment complex as us. Even though Katy and I both had a regular workday and both kids had school, we did get a Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day. It was really nice. 

Then on this Sunday about 20 american famlies in our apartment complex are getting together for a thanksgiving dinner and party. Everyone is bringing something. It should be fun.  I like the fact that we found some american families here who don't want to lose our traditions from home.

So in the end, we did have a Thanksgiving however somewhat lacking.

It's Beginning to look alot like..wait, stop the presses, it's only November 5th, Thanksgiving is not..oh..yeah..nevermind

Yes it is November 5th here in Hong Kong and everyone is putting up their Christmas decorations like it is the week before Thanksgiving. As an American family whose first year is in Hong Kong, we react with horror, right?  "Oh come on.  It's only November 5th.  Thanksgiving is still almost..." then you stop and blink yourself back to the moment.

Yes this is Hong Kong, the Special Administrative District of the People's Republic of China. The next holiday IS Christmas. They don't celebrate American Thanksgiving.