Thanksgiving: Getting Drunk and Giving Thanks

A major holiday is on the horizon, and people across the country will gather together to join in the revelry. No, I'm not talking about Thanksgiving (although food, friends and family will abound), and I'm not talking about the day after Thanksgiving (the biggest shopping day of the year). I'm talking about the night before Thanksgiving, which has become the biggest party night of the year.

I don't know when, where, why or how it started, but Thanksgiving Eve has become synonymous with bars, booze, house parties and old friends. It seems like more people go out the night before Thanksgiving then they do on New Year's Eve.

So, while Thanksgiving is and always will be a time for families and friends to come together to give thanks for all they've been blessed with, it's also a time for many to rest and recover from the previous night's exploits and activities.

Why is Thanksgiving Eve such a good night to go out for mixing, mingling and a few libations? For many, the night is a great chance to catch up with old friends and acquaintances that just aren't around anymore. In cities across the country, thousands of people return to their hometowns for the Thanksgiving holiday, so the night before represents the perfect opportunity to get together with school chums and former flames.

Many people view the night as a reunion of sorts, a time when old classmates unite in a casual, relaxed, low-maintenance setting. There's no need to make up a glamorous job or hire a beautiful escort, either. In fact, there's no pressure at all. You're there because you want to be. In a lot of ways, this night can be better than an actual reunion because there's no corny awards, no cover charge and no need to get all dressed up. It's simply a night to catch up with all those memorable and meaningful people from your formative years and relive the "glory days."

Another reason this has become such a big night out is because it's often viewed as a last ditch effort to get away from crazy and/or annoying relatives. It sounds mean-spirited, but we all know when families get together, tensions and tempers may rise. Getting out of the house for a few hours is often a welcome respite from all the family hoopla. But, on the flip side, many times family members get together to join in on the revelry. While the chefs are prepping for the big meal, the other family members get out of their hairs and knock back a few.

Seems like a good night to go out, doesn't it? Not for some people. For many others, Thanksgiving Eve is the worst night of the year to go out. And, often, those people feel that way for the same reasons as the people who enjoy the night do. Some people can't stand the majority of people they grew up with, so they don't want to be surrounded by them. Some people just hate crowds in general. Some people don't have big families or families who are willing and able to hit the bars. Others just don't want to be hung over and sick for the best meal of the year.

Still, whether you take part in the festivities or not, Thanksgiving Eve is almost always a memorable night. You're either out and about amongst friends and family, raising glasses and sharing laughs, or you're at home, blissfully away from the hustle and bustle, in anticipation of a hearty, home-cooked meal.

So, no matter where you are, what you do and whom you're with, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!