Quote Roundup: Quirky Thanksgiving Holiday Traditions

How does your family celebrate Thanksgiving? Is it a little offbeat or pretty typical? Is there a such thing as a typical Thanksgiving anymore? We asked several people around the United States for their quirky traditions. Feel free to sound yours off in the comment section.

"Thanksgiving Day is usually hectic for us, so our favorite tradition takes place on Black Friday. We go to a unique local restaurant that's a mix between pan-Asian food and homemade ice cream parlor. To me, it's not Thanksgiving without pad thai and a hot fudge sundae from Baumgart's." - Nancy Lichtenstein in Livingston, NJ

"At exactly noon, every family member stops whatever they are doing and gathers around a radio, with a telephone in hand. We call to remind those not with us that it is noon. Why? because KSHE-95 radio station is about to play "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie. We have dome this since the early 70's. Even if the entire family isn't together, we are united through this song on Thanksgiving Day!" - Donna Thacker in Pocahontas, IL

"For years, my parents traditional Thanksgiving dinner was a barbecue. That's not too quirky but we barbecued steaks in the Arizona desert at least an hour's drive off paved roads. After dinner we we would hike, then watch the sun set." - Tsu Dho Nimh in Phoenix, AZ

"I've traditionally provided beautiful, fall-inspired Thanksgiving centerpieces throughout the house, filled with artistically arranged fruits, nuts, and fall leaves. Encouraging healthy snack foods for my kids, has unfortunately sent the message to for them to completely devour all displays, before the big day! " - Cheri Majors in Covina, CA

"We actually do not celebrate Thanksgiving in our house. We act as if the day is like any other. This is only due to the belief of being truthful to our family on the history of Thanksgiving." - Nikol Purvis in San Diego, CA

"Growing up in N. Idaho, we had so many Thanksgiving dinners without electricity that I thought that was normal. We had a generator that we used to power the stove/oven and the TV. No lights, no power, eating dinner by candle light but we still watched the football games!" - Ebner Family in Conway Springs, KS

"In 1996 I lived in San Diego. I had a special Thanksgiving planned, with my parents coming so they could officially meet my fiance at the time. It was one of those times when everything had to be perfect. But, my oven broke the day before Thanksgiving, and the repair man couldn't get the parts until Monday! It was a nightmare! My step-dad however, saved the day. Upon arriving he just started setting up my barbecue and asked if there was another one we could borrow. We ended up having smoked turkey Luau style. My boyfriend even dug out a tape of steel drums for us to listen to." - Candes Meisenheimer in Arizona

"I grew up in a shall we say "privleged" home. Our home employed ahousekeeper and a live-in cook. On Thanksgiving, My parents invited their domestic help and their families for dinner. Our family would prepare and serve a Thanksgiving meal for their families as a way of saying thank-you for all they did during the year. The children all became friends. Though younger generations no longer have the domestic help, the families still celebrate Thanksgiving together. It's pretty cool." - Doug Donald in Detroit, MI

"We share a story every holiday meal: On holidays, my dad's mom would invite my mom's family to dinner, so basically the 'whole family' could enjoy dinner without the family 'split'. An aunt on my mom's side brought cheesecake for dessert. I was still a kid and it didn't taste right. My dad's dad, wihout missing a beat, just sprinkled some sugar on his and continued eating. Apparently my aunt had forgotten to add sugar to the recipe. My dad's parents have long ago passed on, but to this day at every holiday meal, we retell the story of the sugarless cheesecake." - Jolynne Hudnell in Athens, OH