Thanksgiving at a Crossroads: How Food, Timing and Politics Reveal American Divides

Thanksgiving is traditionally cast as a day of unity, yet recent patterns around what people eat, how long they stay at the table and whether politics is discussed show the holiday often mirrors broader cultural, economic and political divisions.

Food and preparation: tradition meets convenience

What ends up on holiday tables is changing. Takeout and dining at restaurants on Thanksgiving have grown in popularity: restaurant software firm Popmenu reported a 42% increase from 2024 in people planning to order from or dine at a restaurant on Thanksgiving. Rising costs and a desire to spend less time cooking and more time with family are the main drivers.

Who sits at the table—and for how long

Guest lists and the time families spend together can signal deeper tensions. Researchers using smartphone location data found that politically mixed gatherings were noticeably shorter than politically homogeneous ones—about 30 to 50 minutes shorter in a 2018 analysis, and roughly 24 minutes shorter in a follow-up study in 2020. A 2025 YouGov survey reported that 19% of Democrats expected political arguments at the table, compared with 9% of Republicans.

How Americans actually spend the holiday

Despite shorter politically tense meals, large portions of the holiday remain focused on food and socializing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, using long-term time-use data, found that on average people spent about 128 minutes on meal preparation and cleanup, 89 minutes eating and drinking, and about 148 minutes socializing during Thanksgiving.

Tradition and change at the table

Traditional turkey rituals persist: the National Turkey Federation reports that 94% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving, 87% include turkey in their traditions, and 74% plan to serve a whole bird. At the same time, producers and brands note growing openness to nontraditional dishes—Jennie‑O found 55% of Americans are open to trying Thanksgiving recipes from different cultures, particularly when it comes to side dishes—illustrating a blend of old and new culinary practices.

Smaller symbols, larger meanings

Even ceremonial elements, like the presidential turkey pardon, have evolved: birds are more often named and cared for publicly now than they were in the early 2000s, reflecting a broader shift in how Americans humanize traditions. Taken together, these trends show Thanksgiving remains a setting where families negotiate identity, cost, culture and politics—sometimes bridging differences, sometimes underscoring them.

Key statistics: Popmenu (42% rise in restaurant/takeout plans from 2024); smartphone studies (2018 and 2020) on shorter politically diverse dinners; YouGov 2025 (19% of Democrats vs 9% of Republicans expect political arguments); USDA ERS time-use averages; National Turkey Federation and Jennie‑O consumer findings.