On Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:32:48 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2014-11-05 8:36 AM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:
>
>>
>> Our issue is Christmas. We're from a Polish/German background, so
>> traditionally we eat a lot of pork. But one of the nieces married a
>> Muslim and is raising their children in that faith. Her husband, who
>> smokes and drinks alcohol, refuses to even be in attendance if pork is
>> served. No big loss.
>
>I'm with you Moe. There are a number of special occasion dinners that
>involve traditions. While most people here traditionally serve turkey,
>others have other dishes that are traditional to them. If people do not
>appreciate those traditions they need not be invited.
>
>However, you might not get as much support for that attitude as you
>might expect. There are a number of people here who would expect you to
>cater to the guests, as we have seen on previous threads regarding
>vegetarians and vegans.
>
>I figure that if vegetarians and vegans want to be included in
>traditional celebrations they should be prepared to do some
>accommodation themselves. They should not expect to come to a meal that
>is primarily a meat fest and expect vegetarian fare.
>
>One of my nephews comes to our house for some of those special meals
>because of the way his parents cater to his brother and SiL when they
>come to visit for holidays. They make the 7 hour car trip to come for
>Thanksgiving and expect a vegetarian meal.... tofurkey. They don't want
>their dinner to be tainted by turkey aroma. Last Easter they came down
>and SiL was laid up and unable to cook. Instead of stepping up to the
>bar and taking over the cooking duties they decided to order Chinese
>food. The two vegetarians were upset because they could not
>convince the others to order only vegetarian dishes.
>
>AFAIAC.. a person is entitled to serve a traditional dinner on special
>occasions and to invite whoever they feel would appreciate it. If
>someone doesn't like what's served, or doesn't eat that type of food for
>one reason or another.... don't come.
>
>
>
>
When my Vegan son and his girlfriend came for Thanksgiving they
brought their own tofuturkey. I set aside servings of dressing and
potatoes before butter an turkey broth were added and they did
whatever they wanted to them. The rest of the dinner they ate. It
was not a major imposition on me which I think is a major problem for
some. I wanted my son to be there with the rest of the family and was
willing to make a few changes. If they had come in and expected us to
change everything to suit them I am sure we would not have done it.

Said son is now a carnivore so holiday meals are not a problem. He
stirs the hollandaise sauce and does other prep work as needed.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)