Darling Hubby carving our first Turkey!(do I need to clear some stuff off the fridge or what?)
On the Sunday before the Advent fast begins, we have all our friends and family over for turkey 'n stuffing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and lots of other yummy non-fasting foods!
I make the lamb or turkey, a few sides and a dessert and everyone else brings different sides, etc too. So there is a wonderful variety to enjoy!
We make a campfire in our backyard once it gets dark and we all sit around making s'mores and drinking hot apple cider.
This year since my mom is living in Ohio, I had to make the turkey! I was so excited! It was my first turkey! I have to admit I was a little freaked out by all the "parts" it came with, I never knew I had to pull the neck out!!! My dad couldn't believe I threw away "the best part". Sorry, Dad maybe next year...
19 comments:
An Orthodox Thanksgiving- what a wonderful idea! Why hasn't it been the obvious solution for all of us all along???
Too late this year, but I'm going to start doing the same next year, with extra thanks to YOU for giving me the idea!
This is a beautiful idea! At our church we actually do a Thanksgiving feast with the kids the week or two before fasting begins. The middle schoolers had it last week and the high schoolers are having theirs tonight. I can't wait to eat the delicious meal!!!
The Nativity Lent begins Friday Nov 28th for us! We give "thanks" everyday, but it's nice to have a day to just enjoy the harvest and a turkey. This year, I asked my husband to get some game for us, I read an article on how good it is for you! He usually just shoots targets for fun.
I was scared preparing my first turkey as well. Thankfully, I had a friend from work over for Thanksgiving. She prepared her desserts the night before, spent the night at our house, and then got up before we did and started the turkey. But since then, I've had no trouble making turkey.
I think that anyone who skips Thanksgiving due to the fast should definitely have an Orthodox Thanksgiving, especially if you were raised celebrating it every year.
Our diocese giving us a blessing for eating meat and dairy that day. But I love the idea of doing Thanksgiving before the fast that way you can actually participate in the entire fast.
Like Michelle, we have a blessing to eat meat with family - that way we can celebrate with non-Orthodox family. I also like the pre-fast Feast Day idea though!
pssst..don't tell you dad but I throw away the neck too.
That's a marvelous idea! Sadly, being the only Orthodox in the family, it wouldn't help me too much. My church's YAL is doing something special tomorrow, though, and I'm going to that.
Our Church did a Thanksgiving meal at coffee hour, but there was no turkey. There was some stuffing.
Down here it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving without the turkey.... and it has to be deep fried.
Advent doesn't start until after Thanksgiving. Isn't like 11/27 or 11/28?
That is, I guess if you follow the Old Calendar and celebrate on January 7th, which is Orthodox Christmas.
Anonymous-
Yes the Old Calendar celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7 and the New Calendar celebrates it on Dec. 25, and Jan 7. is St. John the Baptist's feastday (the day after Epiphany).
If Orthodoxy is the unchanged religion, the religion of the apostles, then why do we celebrate different Christmas Days?
Should'nt everyone have remained the same?
Anonymous-
Orthodoxy HAS remained unchanged. The calendar does not reflect the religion. Should it have remained unchanged? Yes. Did it? No. Does that mean that there has to be a separation between the two calendars? There is enough division in the world, those of us who are truly Orthodox can remain living in peace with each other even though we are on different calendars. It's a shame to me that people are still looking to argue among brethren about this matter.
You seem to have been looking for a debate on Old vs. New and I am sorry that you will not find it here...
I'm not looking for a debate. It is what it is.
You're either Orthodox or you're not. It is unchanged and EVERYTHING with Orthodoxy should've remained unchanged - including the calendar.
Fasting has changed and everything has changed with all the converts and OCA stuff - taking communion every Sunday w/o fasting from meat & dairy on Saturday night. You should not be able to take communion every Sunday unless you are truly prepared. And being truly prepared is fasting from meat& dairy the night before - not out eating steak and partying not that everyone does that.
The church doctrine is black & white and it HAS CHANGED.
I do love your blog, however!
Anonymous-
Does this mean I'm not Orthodox?!? I think that is such a prideful statement!
I agree, the calendar shouldn't have changed, but it did and that does not make the people who follow it wrong. If I'm not mistaken, I believe St. Nektarios was part of the new calendar. A calendar does not change Orthodoxy.
As far as fasts are concerned that is to be under the discretion of everyone's spiritual father. I personally only eat meat twice a week (on Sun and Mon) when I commune because that is the fast my spiritual father prescribes.
I also don't think we should label all OCA parishes as "bad" and all old calendar ones "good" because I know of several that are exactly opposite of that. I think being judgmental of fellow Orthodox Christians is more "un-Orthodox" than what day your jurisdiction celebrates Christmas.
And as far as converts go, how many saints were converts? Christ brought Christianity for everyone, if converts were "bad" or "wrong" we'd sure have a lot less saints and a lot more empty churches.
You're right and I sincerely apologize. Please forgive me. I do get annoyed with the other orthodox jurisdictions because i think if we're supposed to do it "this way" why are they doing it another way - maybe a little lacking - like eating cheese during advent? Not everyone does that, but I know the OCA church around my house does it.
I guess I can't worry about what others are doing and just worry about myself and my own salvation.
Please accept my sincere apology. Enjoy your advent and Christmas - whenever you celebrate!
Anonymous-
There's no need to apologize. May God forgive us all! I think most of us have been "annoyed" with something another person was/wasn't doing. It's just important for all of us to keep our eye on the ball. The evil one places many obstacles in our way on our path to salvation, both inside and out of the Church. I truly love you as my sister (or brother) in Christ and hope that you will forgive me as well.
I'd like you to e-mail me if you get a chance, there's something I'd like to send you. :)
Another option would be to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. It's much more logically situated, for a harvest feast, in early October each year.
The unworthy priest,
Fr. Gregory Hogg
On the poll, you forgot to add, It only matter's once in a great blue moon because we are on the Julian calendar so it rarely ever falls in there to start with =)
Oh well, that would have been my vote!
We have a feast after church the sunday before (tomorrow) since the fast usually starts right afterward for us and a Thanksgiving Molebin right before that...LONG day :o)
I think its the matter of the patriarchs to decide the canonical status of OCA. To my best knowledge its a church in full communion!
I think that the Ecumenical Patriarch Constantinos said clearly that american orthodox of the new calendar, not only can break the lent, but should celebrate their family bonds.
Finally as a non American, I don't get why there should be so many different churches in just one country!
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