Question for Orthodox Americans: Thanksgiving and the Nativity fast

[SeekerOfChrist94]

I have a question for American members of the Orthodox church. How does the Nativity fast affect how you celebrate Thanksgiving? Especially if you are a convert. I apologize if this sounds like a dumb question. I'm not Orthodox, so I don't know how the fasts affect national holidays. I'm curious.

 

[Lukaris]

We can celebrate Thanksgiving and have turkey etc.

 

[Antony in Tx]

The way I was taught was that we are to fast so as not to draw attention to ourselves in doing so. Thus if we are to be around non-Orthodox people for a holiday meal, we should eat what they eat, but perhaps be mindful to not be gluttonous in how we eat. Also, our priest tells us that since we might inadvertently draw attention by not observing the secular feast, we should feel free to go ahead and do so if we choose to, regardless of whether others are present or not.

 

[SillyFool]

I believe American Bishops often give a blessing to their flock to suspend the fast for Thanksgiving. That's what I was told by my priest in regard to the upcoming fast.

 

[buzuxi02]

Those on the new calendar usually recieve a dispensation. This is not the best situation, as there are Orthodox holidays within the lenten periods and even for those feast days the fast is nevef abolished just relaxed.

 

[xenia]

Usually on the Old Calendar there's no problem but last year, Thanksgiving and the fast coincided. We had a lot of people over for dinner last year (family members). The non-Orthodox got turkey and the Orthodox got salmon.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

I have a question for American members of the Orthodox church. How does the Nativity fast affect how you celebrate Thanksgiving? Especially if you are a convert. I apologize if this sounds like a dumb question. I'm not Orthodox, so I don't know how the fasts affect national holidays. I'm curious.

It's not a dumb question at all. I'm the only Orthodox in my family, so it's always been an important question to me.

In our Diocese, we have a blessing to not fast on Thanksgiving. Our late Archbishop DMITRI (Memory Eternal!) felt that this was a very "Orthodox" holiday in that it was founded as a time to give thanks to God for His care, and something that we should partake of.

Mary

 

[gzt]

The idea of Thanksgiving is such a great holiday - Fr Alexander Schmemann in several writings waxes about how fantastic it is. You're thanking God - what's more Christian than that? It's just mildly unfortunate that it falls in a fast (on the New Calendar). If you have non-Orthodox family, it gets a little easier: most priests and bishops advise it's more charitable to eat what they put in front of you than to insist on something different, and it would probably be somewhat uncharitable if you were hosting it to defy their expectations so thoroughly by serving something else.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I have been told the same, essentially. A dispensation to suspend the fast if it might cause anyone to stumble or reflect negatively in any way, which is almost a given if you have all non-Orthodox family as I do. Though as mentioned, it is still a good idea not to be gluttonous (we really shouldn't even be downright gluttonous at the Paschal feast, should we?).

I do like the thought that Thanksgiving is a holiday based on giving thanks to God. It reminds me somewhat of the ancient Hebrews who were told, if they couldn't journey to the temple, to take their tithes and use them to throw a feast of thanksgiving.

 

[ArmyMatt]

you eat your Turkey and whatnot (don't overindulge, haha) because the point of the holiday is to thank God for His many blessings. sometimes by refraining from something like Thanksgiving to eat with your family and friends, we can run into spiritual pride and a holier-than-thou attitude, which defeats the point of the fast anyways.

not a dumb question at all.