The Top 3 Most Confusing Thanksgiving Foods, According To People Who Aren't American
HuffPost
The tradition matters more than whether the food makes sense to anyone else.
When my American wife, Cece, decided to host her first Friendsgiving in Australia, she cheerfully designed an Evite with basic details and a list of potluck dishes. I looked at it blankly. “You can’t send this,” I told her.
She was confused. What was wrong with it?
Everything, I explained. Our friends would have no idea what “Friendsgiving” even meant. And the dishes? Pumpkin pie would sound bizarre. Marshmallows on a side dish? They’d assume it was a children’s birthday party.
What started as a simple invitation required a complete rewrite with sections explaining what Friendsgiving was, why the menu was so specific, and what each dish contained. As RSVPs came in, friends had questions. Why so much pumpkin? What even is green bean casserole?
One friend asked if she could bring something not on the list. Cece paused, considered it, and said no. She’s been in Australia for 10 years, but this tradition is her way of honoring her roots while making a home here. The menu stays.
