What Time Is Your Thanksgiving Dinner?

we ate at 12, but I really wish I had planned better and had stuff ready to go into the oven when we got home from my aunt's because i could totally eat dinner again soon!

We had a nice breakfast at 7:45am, a light lunch at 1. We'll have appetizers/finger foods about 4:30, and dinner at 5:30 or 6pm. Dessert, we'll usually wait 30 minutes or so after we eat and just visit, have some wine or coffee, then have dessert. I grew up eating at 2, and think it's kinda funny that other people do that too. WHY? (Not judging, it's just....who eats at 2 or 3 on any other day of the year? What a strange time...I'd either be STARVING for skipping lunch, or not really interested in a big wonderful meal even if I had just a little light lunch). Besides, my guys need their nap which ends around 2:30-3, and they wouldn't want to have a big meal immediately out of bed. Just wouldn't work for us, and my husband is English and didn't grow up with some strange time tradition, so he's perfectly fine with my keeping Thanksgiving dinner for......well.......dinner time.

My plan was 3...it changed to 4, and it was probably closed to 5 by the time it was all ready. But yes, 3-4 is more normal for such a big meal.

OMG!
My mother has trained us very well. The meal starts at 12:00, if you are not there, we sit down anyway.

This morning she called me at 9:30 am and said "Oh wow, everything is ready right now, You all don't eat any breakfast and go ahead and come over."

I told her we were "having toast and coffee and were not anywhere near being ready. " She kind of pouted and said,
"Oh, Ok, I guess we will just reheat it whenever you get here."

So rude.. Why on earth she had it ready at that hour?

Cowboys at 315 and supper after the half time show!! Then beer and grazing till the wee hours. Love me some thanksgiving :)

I think it depends. 3 pm is sort of an odd time, because it isn't a traditional meal hour. You could eat at noon or 1 pm. OR you could eat at 5pm. Either would be just fine. But 3:00 pm is sort of "snack time" not the time to eat the biggest meal of the entire year....

We ate shortly after 1:00 pm today. But I have other family that was eating at noon at one home, then going for "another" family gathering at 5:00 pm.
(shrug)... So long as the hour you choose is a "traditional meal hour" then I say eat whichever time you choose...

We are having dinner at 5pm today.

In my family; dinner is dinner... and dinner is at 7.

In my husband's they eat at lunch time.

We must be the crazy family, we dont eat til around 530

3pm.

Used to be 2pm.

Anything is fine. Just before 5pm is ideal. :)

Happy Turkey day!

I normally have it around 3pm, but since this is our first thanksgiving since moving near my husbands family, she asked me not to come over until 6pm. I have an hour drive over there too! My husband is working today so it's just me and the kids. We are going to head over there after lunch today because for that long of a drive, I'm staying longer than 2 hours, lol!

It is 5:57pm and we have JUST finished eating our delicious meal. Usually, we're still waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven at 8pm, so this year is a wonderful change.

Mid afternoon - somewhere between 2 and 3.

@Laurie A - I think we have the same mom! LMAO!

I typically due more of a lunchtime meal...anywhere from 12-1 pm. Today we did 1 pm so I wasn't rushed. It also allows for guests to not rush if they are going somewhere at "dinner" time and we have leftovers already (keeps me from fixing both lunch and dinner). This way, we can relax and enjoy the day. My 20yr old just left to visit w/ some friends while home from college.

Today, my turkey should have taken 4 hours and since I wanted it done 45 minutes early (so I could have the oven for some other dishes) I put it in to be done 1 hour early...for some unknown reason it took just over 3 hours to cook but it was still warm when we ate so all is good.

My family is arriving at 2, we will have our appetizers and then probably eat around 3:30. I think I went overboard this year we will be eating for a few hours, go into a food coma, and have leftovers for a week lol!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This year? We have plans to eat between 2 and 3...last year? 4PM. It varies every year....depends upon where we are and who we are having over or whose home we were invited to.

Why does he want later? What's the big deal? Is there a way for you guys to compromise over this? Will our stating we want earlier make him change his mind? Sorry - not trying to be rude - but really - this shouldn't be a fight.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

1 p.m.......all i have to do is put everything in the two ovens i have to reheat it at 12:15......make tea, and put out my prepared crudites and deviled eggs.

We should arrive at the out-laws around 3pmish. We have a drink or two and some appetizers. Dinner is typically around 5pm. Dessert maybe around 6:30-7pm? I prefer it a bit later. We eat 30 minutes earlier on Christmas Day so the kids can open their presents before dessert.

Gathering time at our uncle's house is at 3, dinner will probably end up around 5, which, in my opinion, is a LONG time to make kids wait to eat dinner.

We eat late, about 6ish. We are having appetizers now. I like to relax and go slow :)

My mother's Thanksgiving was at noon or 1 since many had to drive and she wanted people off the road in the evening and MN roads could be icy - their house is in the boonies.

When we went to other Thanksgivings they were often at 3 or 4 in the afternoon to allow for people who work in the morning to get there.

This year, it is just me, hubby, and 2 toddlers. I'm planning on having us sit down at 4, since it is a heavier meal.

We just got back from our future in laws. We ate there at 12 noon. I got up and had everything mostly done before I left. My mother stayed behind and finished up our turkey gravy and ate the meal at our house with her friend. She put it all away and now we have a mountain of leftovers at our house since these ladies don't eat much.

I'm with you, earlier is better.

Usually when we celebrate with family, we eat no later than 4. This year it is just my Honey and our 1 year old, so we ate at normal dinner time 5:30 to keep the baby's schedule.

Our Turkey did not get out of the oven until 4 and we did not sit down to eat until nearly a full half hour after that ( long story short my oven has ONE shelf!) anywho...some years we have eaten as early as 2 other years 4...it all depends. I was not getting up any earlier. As it was I was up and dressed and had pies in the oven at 8 am = ) I say it is all a matter of preference and convenience...if he gets hungry later on, that is what left overs are for = )