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How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid

November 17, 2016 by Alex | Backpacking Brunette Leave a Comment

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How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid

Will you be celebrating Thanksgiving in Madrid? It may be a classically American holiday, but it’s still possible to celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain!

From where to buy pumpkin pie filling and watch the big game to the best places to find an *almost* home-cooked meal, this post has everything you need to celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid.

This post was originally published Nov. 17, 2016, and was updated Oct. 16, 2018.

Celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain with these tips!

Image Credit: Unsplash (Text Overlay: Backpacking Brunette)

Share the holiday

Last year, both of the schools where I taught celebrated Halloween as part of the bilingual curriculum. However, neither school had any mention of Thanksgiving in the course plans. That’s where I stepped in!

After a month of teaching British English (occasionally going as far as pronouncing vocabulary words with an English accent), I was more than ready to share something distinctly American.  In a short presentation, I told the story of Thanksgiving and described how Americans typically celebrate. Afterward, the whole class traced their hands and made turkeys. Whether with your students, colleagues or non-American friends, don’t pass up this unique opportunity to share your culture and customs.

As wonderful as living abroad can be, even the most committed expats get homesick at the holidays. Here are five ways you can celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid!
How cute are these little turkeys?!

Interested in teaching English in Spain? Check out this post all about the North American Language and Culture Assistants program!

Where To Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Madrid

Perhaps what you miss the most about Thanksgiving in the States isn’t friends and family but rather turkey and stuffing. If that’s the case (and no need to feel bad if it is), several restaurants in Madrid celebrate Thanksgiving with special meal deals.  Here’s one I’m personally considering:

The Roll: For €35, The Roll (Calle Amaniel, 23) provides a full, traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including a welcoming glass of cava and a glass of wine. For €10, you can drink unlimited beer and wine during the meal. Reservations can be made by phone (918 05 79 30) or online.

Where to Watch American Football in Madrid

So, I guess I should just put this out there…I’m a Lions fan. Hey, they’re apparently first in the NFC North right now! Win or lose, watching the Lions play on Thanksgiving (every Thanksgiving) is a huge part of the holiday for me. Time change or not, as part of how I celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid this year, I’m determined to watch them play the Vikings. I haven’t decided whether I’m going to try to stream the game or watch it at a bar like this one:

James Joyce Irish Pub: For fans of American football, James Joyce Irish Pub (Calle de Alcalá, 59) is one of Madrid’s hidden treasures. NFL games are broadcast live on three big screen televisions. Like The Roll, James Joyce offers a Thanksgiving menu for €28 euros.

As wonderful as living abroad can be, even the most committed expats get homesick at the holidays. Here are five ways you can celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid!
Hoping for a Lions win on Turkey Day! Image Credit: Pete Sheffield

Where To Buy Pumpkin Pie Filling in Madrid

I don’t have an oven in my piso, but if you are fortunate to be so blessed, why not use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to test out your culinary skills? If not pumpkin pie, perhaps another holiday classic: green bean casserole, anyone? Taste of America, Madrid’s authentic American market, can help make your food fantasies a reality with its wide range of products and ingredients. Behold: pumpkin pie filling, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce and so much more.

As wonderful as living abroad can be, even the most committed expats get homesick at the holidays. Here are five ways you can celebrate Thanksgiving in Madrid!
I’m more of an apple pie person, but if pumpkin pie is your jam, Taste of America has everything you need (minus the oven). Image Credit: Mark Fowler 

Celebrating Christmas in Madrid too? You’ll need my tips for making the most of the holiday season in Spain!

Express gratitude

In the end, it doesn’t matter if you pay for a fancy dinner or bake a pumpkin pie. What matters is embracing the most important part of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Say thank you to your colleagues and friends for welcoming you to Spain. Tell your family and friends back home how much you appreciate their support. For all its ups and downs, take a moment to be grateful for your life abroad.

Have you ever celebrated Thanksgiving in Madrid? How about somewhere else abroad? What did you do to celebrate?


Pssst…Don’t forget to Pin this post for later!

Celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain with these tips!

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