AITAH for not wanting to host Christmas after the family stole all the Thanksgiving leftovers?

After hosting a large Thanksgiving dinner, a couple generously invited their guests to take some leftovers. The next morning, the host discovered their fridge completely empty, with even unopened desserts and all their homemade food gone.

One family had taken nearly everything, leaving the hosts stunned. Now, the host is reconsidering hosting Christmas due to the guests’ excessive and greedy behavior. read the original story below…

‘ AITAH for not wanting to host Christmas after the family stole all the Thanksgiving leftovers?’

My husband and I hosted the family for Thanksgiving. We made 2 turkeys, a ham, 20 lbs of mashed potatoes, 2 pans of dressing, sweet potato casserole…the full Thanksgiving menu. My in-laws always bring a ton of desserts, trays of cookies, pies, rolls, etc. which helps so much.

We had a lovely evening, good food, good drink, good company. Later in the evening, when people were packing up to go, my husband had bought some plastic leftover containers for this moment and said help yourselves to some leftovers.

We then went back into the front room to continue socializing. I was pretty tired and put my feet up, until it came time to walk everyone out. I looked into the kitchen and saw that the food on the island and the table was put away and went to bed.

The next morning I woke up starving, dreaming of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. I opened the fridge and stood there in shock – it was empty except for a bag of turkey wings and half a bag of dressing. I thought there had to be some mistake and went to check the fridge in the garage.

Nothing there evening. I sat in shock, trying to comprehend what had happened to all of that food. When my husband walked into the kitchen, I asked him if there had been some miscommunication – did he offer the left over food to our relative’s charity organization?

He said that he had not, but he had observed another relative and his entire family carrying out the food that they had brought, unopened dessert that the in-laws had brought, in addition to gallon ziplock bags of the food that we had made. Did I mention I had made 20 lbs of mashed potatoes?!?

It was a pleasure to make a meal for us to share together and I welcomed a reasonable amount of left overs, but to literally rob your host and take everything is out of bounds in my book. Now I don’t want to host Christmas because of this greedy behavior. AITAH?

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Lovebug-1055 −  Do not host Christmas. Just say “sorry we spent so much on Thanksgiving and when everyone took all the leftovers, leaving us nothing, I had to go out and buy food for us which used up my food budget for the month. Merry Christmas”.

Neat_Caregiver_2212 −  They took EVERYTHING THEY TOOK THE ROAST BEAST!

Zestyclose_Public_47 −  Why didn’t your husband say anything when he saw them taking the food?

repairmanjack2023 −  NTA. Sounds like one of those Chevy Chase National Lampoon Vacation movies. Laugh it off, and don’t invite them again.

SwimmingProgram6530 −  NTA. By the sound of it, they will still be eating your leftovers by then.

Jmfroggie −  Nta. I’d send out a message and say to whoever so rudely took ALL the leftovers, YOU should host the next holiday meal! Or shame them through a group text. You spent the money on the food and the time cooking the food- it belongs to you.

They stole from you by taking everything. There is never an excuse to take all the leftovers without checking with the host- you take SOME, or ask how much. And you NEVER EVER take unopened dishes another guest brought!

adventuresofcoal −  Are our families related? I had family members take ALL the leftover food from my mother’s funeral. It was for my brothers and our kids. Relatives from my deceased father’s side took everything, even took food out of my refrigerator.

manik_502 −  NTA I think is very general knowledge that if a host offers you some leftovers, you take a portion, maybe two xd. It is basic etiquette that you leave food for the hosts, unless explicitly indicated by them. If there aren’t that many portions left, you don’t take any. It’s as simple as that.

herejusttoargue909 −  NTA. Someone always has to spoil it. My husband once had a family reunion. Everyone brought a little bit of something. Not playing, there was so much food and desserts it had to be put in all the fridges and coolers in the house.

When people began leaving my MIL was encouraging people to take food because it would go bad. There’s a very popular pastry place about an hour and a half from us. It’s always packed. If you go, expect to be there for an hour or longer just to get it and go.

Pastries are already made so it’s just the line. One cousin and her family took all the unopened boxes. LMFAO. At the time I was new to the family but I thought it was weird.

The next morning I told my MIL what I had seen cause she was plastered the night before and she was LIVID. She never invited them over again lol. It’s rude. Sorry you have no yummy left over 🙁

Reader124-Logan −  My family purchases those clamshell takeout containers and only puts out sandwich bags. Even then, dispersal of leftovers should be supervised – if nothing else to make sure no one packs your utensils. I’m sorry you found so many leftovers gone.

Setting boundaries is important, especially after such an extreme situation. Is the host overreacting, or is it fair to hold back on hosting again? How would you handle this? Share your thoughts below!