https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 19:20:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1263718 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:50:57 +0000 lovehoneybee 1263718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did it for a couple years in Philly. And D's aunt does this for Thanksgiving. There is always an interesting international mix. This year there was a very pretty 22 year old guy from England. He had such a lovely accent... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1263702 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:43:43 +0000 Dandelion 1263702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents always invite holiday orphans for both holidays. This year, they had one of my mom's international students there, a guy from India. They're always telling people that they're willing to host anyone who doesn't want to be alone during the holidays.</p> <p>I wouldn't mind doing it, either...if I ran into someone that said they had no where to be during the holidays, I'd invite them for Christmas or Thanksgiving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1263700 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:41:05 +0000 MediaNaranja 1263700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, we had a neighborhood Thanksgiving, since everyone living there had family far away. It happened one year, then got bigger and bigger!</p> <p>In college, I usually went to a local friend's house for Thanksgiving, since it wasn't worthwhile to travel home. In grad school, I went to my cousin's home since he was the only person semi-local to me (and he lived far from his family, too).</p> <p>In the Peace Corps, I would gather with other volunteers during Thanksgiving and Christmas. We did the best we could with what we had, but some things were just different, like instead of a turkey (impossible to find) we had local staples like cuy (guinea pig). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1263610 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:04:29 +0000 Penny Lane 1263610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>all the expat Americans and Canadians who attend our church do a big potluck thanksgiving every year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1263545 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:42:29 +0000 cmomma17 1263545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I think my parents signed up to volunteer through the American embassy. We did other things with them too, like BBQ and a trip to the zoo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262450 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:30:20 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1262450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My BIL does a "Friend Christmas" on Christmas eve. He hosts and open-house type get-together so people drop by all afternoon/evening. Some people don't have family in the area, for others, its nice to have a break from their family. We live in a difference city, but have attended a few times and it's a blast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262443 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:29:39 +0000 mrbee 1262443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: That's really cool! How did you guys meet the soldiers? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262424 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:26:48 +0000 cmomma17 1262424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've never used those terms, but several times growing up various family members or friends were invited to our holiday dinner.<br /> One particularly memorable year was during the Gulf War when we had about 6 soldiers over for Christmas. We did a big dinner, drinks, and I think they all played board games (trivial pursuit). Some of them were so thankful to my parents that they continued to write them letters for a few years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262403 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:22:12 +0000 MaisyMay 1262403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While we haven't, it would be nice to get an invite if we don't go to So-Cal for Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262401 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:21:57 +0000 LovelyPlum 1262401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have had holidays with local families when we couldn't get home. Usually, it was through our church. It is so nice to be able to celebrate with someone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262391 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:20:56 +0000 mrs. wagon 1262391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did Orphan Thanksgiving every year since we were married until just last year! I loved hosting it. Felt a little bad ditching all our fellow yearly orphans when family started coming in to town for both Thanksgiving and Christmas when our second baby arrived. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262390 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:20:46 +0000 BabyMats 1262390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess you could say that. Living in Hawaii you have a lot of people moving on and off island getting stationed or coming to school and just not being able to afford to go home. We created our own little family over here. So we would get together when no one could go home for any holiday.it is fun and it brings you close together </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262386 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:19:35 +0000 yoursilverlining 1262386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents have always had an open invite to all friends for Christmas dinner and several friends without family in the area come every year. It's fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-done-an-orphans-christmas-or-orphans-thanksgiving-dinner#post-1262372 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:16:38 +0000 mrbee 1262372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents moved overseas when I was in high school, so I was always grateful when people invited my brother and I to their holiday dinners!</p> <p>&lt;&lt; An orphan's Christmas ... is a term used for a Christmas holiday celebration attended by adults unable to attend more traditional family celebrations, usually due to inability to travel during the Christmas holiday season. One example could be a party hosted by a social club in a major city where not all the club members can visit their families over the holidays. The celebration may take many forms, from a formal dinner at a restaurant to a dance party to a potluck hosted at one participant's house. &gt;&gt;</p> <p>I'd love to start paying it backwards (is that a thing?) and inviting over our friends without local family over for holiday dinners... maybe in a few years, when the kids are a bit older!</p> <p>Have you ever done an "Orphan's Christmas" or "Orphan's Thanksgiving" dinner? </p>