This post was originally published in November 2021 and revised in November 2024 by other contributors.
Living in the U.S., we can easily forget all the cultural nuances that we take for granted, from holiday traditions to everyday life.. Au pairs are often experiencing American cultural traditions for the first time when they join your family. As we approach what some might call “the ultimate American holiday”—Thanksgiving—here are some things to remember when hosting an au pair who may not have celebrated this holiday before.
- Talk about the menu in advance with your au pair. Don’t assume your au pair knows what’s for dinner. They may have heard there’s turkey, but do they have any idea what cranberry sauce is or that we use big orange vegetables in our signature Thanksgiving dessert (pumpkin pie for the win!). They won’t need to feel embarrassed asking what every single dish is as it’s passed to them if they’ve had a lesson beforehand.
- Let your au pair add a native dish. Thanksgiving is a time to share cultures through food. Take the opportunity to let your au pair add some authentic El Salvadorian pupusas to your appetizer spread or a delicious Italian tiramisu to your dessert selection.
- Get ready to explain the rules of football to your au pair. If you’ll be tuning into any football games on Thanksgiving Day, you can expect your au pair may not understand what the terms ‘first down’ or ‘field goal’ mean. Help your au pair cheer for your team of choice by giving them a quick lesson on the sport. Here’s a fun fact you may also want to share: The NFL has been playing football games on Thanksgiving Day since 1934!
- Watch the big parade with your au pair. What’s Thanksgiving without seeing giant floats and character balloons take over the streets of Manhattan? Let your au pair know what channel to catch this on, or even better, if you’re local to the NYC Tri-State area, invite them to see it in person. Believe it or not, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has been a NYC tradition since 1924.
- Don’t forget about Black Friday. Having become a cultural norm and extension of the Thanksgiving holiday, Black Friday is a fun way to end Thanksgiving Day or continue the weekend with your au pair. Having an au pair on Black Friday is a win-win. You can get your holiday shopping done with childcare support at home, and your au pair also gets to experience the sales of a lifetime!
Thanksgiving can be one of the most special holidays au pairs experience in the U.S. because it is filled with family, food, and fun! What’s not to love? Read more about host families and au pairs sharing each other’s culture and Happy Thanksgiving!