I think it's annoying that the two big Christian American family holidays are so close together.

::takes issue with phrasing "Christian American family holiday"::

I'd never heard of it, Jesse, but I just googled it. I can't say it's something I see my parents reading, but now I want to ask them about it.

Okay, must take out garbage and maybe tidy a wee bit before company comes over.

::takes issue with phrasing "Christian American family holiday"::

Yeah, yeah. I was trying to hurry so I could actually get the post posted. What I mean to say is the one big US family holiday and the one big Christian family holiday. Neither of which needs to include blood relatives.

Fourth of July isn't a big US family holiday?

^^sincere question, not nit-baiting^^

Hmm. That trash doesn't seem to have taken itself out. What's up with that?

Fourth of July isn't a big US family holiday?

No. I mean, it's often a get-together holiday, which could include family, but they aren't a key factor. I would say.

And that's not covered by your "not blood relatives" clause? So it's that you get together with people you're less close with?

Tons of people travel to be with family on Thanksgiving. Very few on the 4th of July. Partly because the 4th could be a random Wednesday, and you always get 4 days for Tday.

Shrek=too scary for my kid.

Like flea said. To me, Thanksgiving is about making a point to get together with your family, however you describe that. If you even have a party for 4th of July, it's usually for people nearby, who are sometimes family, but you wouldn't travel to see your family because it's the 4th. You might travel because it's a long weekend.

How to say. If I weren't planning on coming home for Thanksgiving, it would require a phone call to say so. If I were planning on coming home for the 4th, it would require a phone call to say so, and the likely response would be, "O...kay," which would be code for, "Huh? Why? I mean, not that it won't be nice to see you, but... why?"

To me, it's a hang with the people you like where you are at a BBQ and watch fireworks if you're of a mind (or just do nothing and enjoy the day off) holiday, not a default see the family holiday.

Any Canadians around? I'd love to know if it's different there. Most of my friends presented a dislike of Thanksgiving, but that might have been University posturing. Not that July 2nd seemed a big deal, but we weren't in session then, so I don't have as much data.

If I weren't planning on coming home for Thanksgiving, it would require a phone call to say so. If I were planning on coming home for the 4th, it would require a phone call to say so

I like that explanation. It's very simple.

A lot of USians dislike going home for Thanksgiving, but still go.