I did this in college for a catering company - they hired college kids and we just dressed in black pants/skirts, white shirts, and they paid ridiculously high for the time period for us just to stand behind serving carts and helping set up and take down chairs, etc. Great job for students. They did major benefits catering and major weddings and other events - got to see some really cool high end homes in Dallas / Ft. Worth and smile/get smailled at by some famous people.
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I certainly understand that it’s nice to have help and people need jobs.
I personally can’t imagine hiring someone on thanksgiving day. It might be the only American holiday that every American does.
I guess people could come and have their family holiday on another day or later. My husband worked in a place that operated every day. The people working made triple time. It was still a bummer.
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We did a Friendsgiving for about 30 years with pretty much the same people.
We get together with 7 others every New Years Eve and Day, and have been doing that for about 34 years.
All of us pitch in and help with setting up, clean up, and bringing something to contribute to the meals. We would never expect hired help on these holidays. These are “friend family” affairs.
My husband is always the designated carver…regardless of the meat needing to be carved. He does it for free.
But different strokes for different folks, I guess. If it is easier for you to hire folks, go ahead.
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Growing up, my best friend was the daughter of Indian immigrants, naturalized American citizens. They did not do anything fior Thanksgiving.
Where we live there is an enormous Hasidic Jewish population. Thanksgiving is just a Thursday for them-their schools and businesses are all open.
Not every American “does” Thanksgiving 
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@conmama Thanks, I’m going to try at least one!
Anyone made mashed potatoes in advance? If so, how were they…and any tips?
(normally I handle the day of…but this year we have a lot more…and three little ones that I want to enjoy as well!)
I sure do. I usually make “make ahead potatoes” which have cream cheese and chives/onions in them also. But you can do the same thing with just plain mashed potatoes.
Make the potatoes the way you usually do. Place in a casserole. Refrigerate the day before. Then on Thanksgiving day, take out of the fridge about 30 minutes before your turkey is done. Drizzle with melted butter. Then when you take the Turkey out of the oven, put the potatoes in. The Turkey has to sit for a bit and then it has to be carved. That’s at least 20 minutes or more. By that time, the potatoes should be warmed up. Turn the oven up to 375 when you put the potatoes in.
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Just not too far ahead - mashed potatoes do not freeze well.
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I never freeze them. Just refrigerate the day before!
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Actually, the mashed potatoes my family has made for 20+ years freeze just fine.
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I always make my mashed potatoes the day before. Put them in an aluminum pan, sprinkle the top with some breadcrumbs and grated cheese and refrigerate. Then I bake them in the oven on Thanksgiving day. My family calls them twice cooked potatoes and when we reheat them again with leftovers thrice cooked potatoes. Honestly, they are better reheated then when I make them fresh.
My mashed potato recipe is very simple, boiled potatoes, olivio (instead of butter), milk, and salt.
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We make everything but the turkey the day before. Mashed potatoes are one of the easiest dishes to make and reheat. I do pretty much what @thumper1 described above. Go for it.
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I make mine the day before and just cover and leave in the mixing bowl. Next day I add a bit of warm milk and break it up a bit. I put it in the crockpot for about 2-3 hours on high. Mixing it up with a touch more warm milk every 45 minutes or so. They are ready to be put on low after about hour 3 for another hour. I sure make sure they are the normaL consistency. All in all about 4 hours that frees up my ovens.
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That’s interesting - I’ve done them a week or two before and frozen them few times and it changed the texture and they came out grainy. I wonder if it was because I boiled the potatoes instead of baking them? How did you cook your potatoes? I do now just make them a day ahead and refrigerate and they are fine.
This is so sad. I’m glad you will be there for him.
I make mashed potatoes ahead of time and warm them up in a crock pot.
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My oldest always had to travel, but other guests had other schedules, so often we have two full blown Thanksgiving dinners 
They are all good about helping and it would have never occured to me that others hire people!
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Though I didn’t grow up with Thanksgiving, when we had big family or friends meals part of the fun was being on the cleanup crew (for those not involved in the cooking). Negotiating who would wash, dry, put away; lots of laughter and tea towels flying. Back then most people didn’t have dishwashers so were used to routine clean-up and it was a very companionable time with the opportunity to get to know various rellies with a common task to facilitate.
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We still want to go to Kona Kai if a reservation opens up, but now we have a reservation at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town for their buffet. Nice to have options!
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The only “help” we hire on Thanksgiving is either my son or my brother - whoever’s team loses in the Lions vs Packers game that day. 
For years they have had a bet - loser either is on dishes duty or gets a (whipped cream) pie in the face. 
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Even if there is a dishwasher, it may not handle the special dishes and volume from a big party like Thanksgiving. Large gatherings always have bulky serving dishes and lots more dishes than ordinary meals.
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