Shifting Thanksgiving traditions reflect broader political, economic and cultural divides
Thanksgiving, a holiday traditionally celebrated as a time of unity and gratitude, is increasingly reflecting the cultural and ideological fractures within American society. While families gather to share meals and express thanks, the dynamics of these gatherings often reveal deeper divisions. Research indicates that the nature of Thanksgiving dinners—what is served, who attends, and whether political discussions arise—can mirror broader societal shifts. For instance, a significant trend has emerged, with a growing number of Americans opting for take-out or dining in at restaurants. According to a survey by restaurant software company Popmenu, there was a 42% increase in individuals planning to order from restaurants for Thanksgiving dinner in 2024, largely driven by the desire to save time, reduce cooking stress, and manage costs.
The length of Thanksgiving dinners also offers insight into these divisions. A 2018 study utilizing smartphone location data found that politically diverse gatherings were notably shorter—averaging 30 to 50 minutes less—compared to those where attendees shared similar political views. This trend persisted in subsequent studies, with politically varied dinners being approximately 24 minutes shorter on average in 2020. Survey data from YouGov in 2025 highlighted that 19% of Democrats anticipated political arguments at the dinner table, in contrast to just 9% of Republicans. Despite these tensions, the National Turkey Federation reported that 94% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving, with 87% including turkey as part of their holiday tradition. However, there is also a notable shift toward more diverse meal options, with 55% of Americans expressing openness to trying Thanksgiving recipes from different cultures, indicating a blend of traditional and modern influences redefining the holiday.
The evolving nature of Thanksgiving is also reflected in lighter cultural elements, such as the annual presidential turkey pardon, which has transitioned from a somewhat impersonal event to one that humanizes the birds with names, showcasing a growing emphasis on animal welfare. As Thanksgiving continues to be a microcosm of American society, it is clear that the holiday serves not only as a time for celebration but also as a lens through which to view the complexities and transformations of contemporary life in the United States. While the essence of Thanksgiving remains rooted in gratitude and togetherness, the shifting practices and attitudes surrounding the holiday highlight the ongoing dialogue about unity and division in today’s America.
Thanksgiving is often cast as a holiday of unity, but it has also become a microcosm of the country’s fractures.
What winds up being served for
Thanksgiving dinner,
who shows up — or doesn’t — and whether politics gets mentioned, can reflect broader shifts in ideology and culture. Simultaneously, Thanksgiving is still intended to bridge divides and emphasize the magnificence of the great American experiment launched centuries ago.
One example of this is the food Americans choose to eat on Thanksgiving and how they make it.
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Take-out and dine-in options have become more widely adopted in contemporary Thanksgiving celebrations, with research from restaurant software company Popmenu finding a 42% increase from 2024 in the number of folks who plan to order from, or dine-in at, a restaurant on Thanksgiving. Costs were a primary reason for the shift, along with wanting to spend more time with family and not worry about cooking.
The length of time spent at the dinner table can also be quite telling.
In 2018, university researchers analyzed smartphone location data pings and determined that “politically diverse” Thanksgiving dinners tended to be significantly shorter than those dinners involving a family of entirely like-minded individuals. The study, conducted in 2018, showed the average dinner was 30 minutes to 50 minutes shorter at tables full of politically diverse folks, while a study measuring the same thing in 2020 found politically diverse dinners to be about 24 minutes shorter on average.
Meanwhile, other Thanksgiving survey data from 2025, published by YouGov, found that 19% of Democrats expect to have political arguments at the dinner table, compared to 9% of Republicans.
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It is hard to say overall whether Thanksgiving diners have gotten longer or shorter, but according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Economic Research Service, people typically spend around 128 minutes on meal preparation and cleanup, 89 minutes on eating and drinking, and about 148 minutes socializing, according to a long-term analysis conducted between 2003 and 2015.
According to the National Turkey Federation, 94% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving.
The group added that 87% of those who celebrate say turkey is part of their holiday tradition, with 74% planning to serve an entire bird.
However, simultaneously, other findings from turkey producer Jennie-O indicated that there is a growing openness for less traditional Thanksgiving meal options, which the group said shows a “blend of old and new is redefining what Thanksgiving dinner looks like across America.”
The turkey product brand noted that 55% of Americans were “open to trying Thanksgiving recipes from different cultures,” particularly via side dishes.
Even the changing treatment of the turkeys used for the
presidential pardon
has shifted slightly over the years.
In the early-2000s, turkeys that were presented were sometimes unnamed, or treated more anonymously, but more recently it has become standard to dub the turkeys with names and humanize them a bit. That trend also mirrors a shift toward better care for the pardoned turkeys over the years.
