First off I would like to wish you all a belated Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s always a strange one for us Brits – there is often confusion on our forums on how to acknowledge it. Should we embrace it? Ignore it? Or be apologizing? After 24 years of living here I am still not quite sure, and usually just follow the lead of the people that I have chosen to spend it with. On the surface it’s a great opportunity to get together without the pressures that Christmas usually brings. No religious connotations or obligation to buy gifts, just a day giving thanks to all that we are grateful for – but I don’t think a year goes by without someone posting on our Brits in LA Facebook group all of the reasons why as Brits we shouldn’t be celebrating Thanksgiving. It is quite hard to disagree when the arguments aren’t wrong.
But this year an American friend of mine joined the conversation and defined what this holiday means to her.
“It’s just a reason to get together with family and gather. You can choose to embrace the positive of love and family, or just concentrate on all the negatives and be miserable. I’ll always choose any reason to embrace love and food. It’s also the #1 holiday where people love taking in any “strays” who don’t have a family here to eat with.”
This is definitely the way I’ve approached Thanksgiving and knowing that some of my American friends feels that way too actually makes me feel more American too!
Although, let’s be honest – to us expats it’s really just a prelude to Christmas. And Los Angeles is making up for lost time/lockdown 2020 and is going all out this year.
The Hollywood Christmas Parade returns after a one year hiatus and promises to be one to remember. For more info visit www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.org.
Live theatre is back too! You can enjoy that Yuletide staple, A Christmas Carol, at the Ahmanson in DTLA, or enjoy a more recent classic, Love Actually Live, at the The Wallis in Beverly Hills.
Want to feel chilly? Then get your skates on as rinks are popping up all over town. The LA Kings Holiday Ice rink will be open November 27, 2021 through January 7, 2022. This brings ice skating to LA Live at the Xbox Plaza right out front of Staples Center.
Baseball season may be over the but Dodgers Holiday Festival (Nov 26- December 31) promises lots of festive fun in the beautiful, newly-renovated Centerfield Plaza, the warning track, and both bullpens, with nightly entertainment, an ice skating rink, scenic and light displays, holiday-themed food and beverages
If you would rather get in the festive spirit by watching a Christmas movie you should check out Street Food Cinemas Holiday line up which includes classics such as Elf, The Santa Clause, Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and It’s A Wonderful Life. The attraction also features festive food, Santa meet and greets, piano sing alongs and a tinsel tavern bar! Visit streetfoodcinema.com for more details.
You can also visit www.Britsin.la for more festive news including where to get the ingredients to make mince pies or cook Yorkshire puddings like your nan’s. And don’t forget if you are free on a Tuesday evening you are always welcome to join us at Sandro’s Monetti’s weekly Pub Quiz at the Market Tavern, which doesn’t need an official occasion to feel like a celebration.
Email us at info@britsin.la if you have questions or suggestions or want to share any events or news
Cheers!
Eileen
