In the military we have invocation before large group meals and some events. Every time there's a group prayer I like to look around and find other atheist people.

I really haven't ever found a better Thanksgiving prayer than the one I learned in the Zen tradition. It is a wonderful nontheistic expression of gratitude, and if I am put in the position of having to give the "grace," this is what it is:

First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food.
Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal.
Third, what is most essential is the practice of mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed, anger and delusion.
Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the good health of our body and mind.
Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings we accept this offering.

Usually at such events my daughter and I are the only non-believers and we do the same as nearly everybody below has said: we just look around to see if there is anybody else not paying attention then grin at them.

I like hanging out in the kitchen with the food. Better conversations come from a roasted turkey imo

I recently found myself in this situation, but since it doesn't happen very often, I really didn't know what to do other than just play along. I'll try to remember next time to look around the room as others here do, trying to spot other non-theists.

This is the first thanksgiving that I will be open to my parents, still not open to my grandparents (and don't plan on it since my grandfather is a pastor and I don't see any benefit from telling them). When I'm back from school and my parents want to pray before eating I just sit there silently and wait for them to finish. This thanksgiving I'll probably say something about being thankful for all of the people who made the meal possible from the farmers who grew the food to my mom who worked all day preparing it.

I do exactly the same thing. Everybody holds hands, which I do, but I refuse to close my eyes or participate in any other way.

Same here. It's awkward. Everyone with their heads bowed, eyes squinted closed intensely. It's funny to watch actually. I just deal with it then get my turkey and dressing fix on.

I'm with you. If they believe, that is their business and I'll be respectful of their ignorance - but later I'll try to talk about why they believe in one god, but not all gods. Brainwashing is a wonderful thing.

My kids and I sit respectfully while winking and making faces at each other from across the room.

For those wrestling with the best way to handle things like this, Greta Christina's book "Coming Out Atheist" is arguably the best resource out there!

I pointedly look about and see who the other posers are.

I don't come from a very religious family at all, but my brother's wife tried to pull that shit one year, many years ago.
She went ahead and did her thing and I did like you did and just looked around.
She never tried to do that again. It was very awkward.

I just don’t. No one seems to care.

It's no big deal to go along with the family, especially a deeply religious family. these events are defining moments in many families, and they only occur several times a year. believe me, I've been through 45-50 thanksgiving dinners and I've come to the conclusion that my personal ideas sometimes have to take the backseat, and I just tolerate the ride, be respectful.

My mom told me once to bow my head in respect for those you eat with, but don't close your eyes in submission to what they bealive.

I keep my eyes open, scanning the room for any other "friends".

I agree with you and fortunately experienced the same thing as you! Fortunately, overtime, my family because less religious via debate and questioning their principles about God! They finally accepted my atheist beliefs in Clovis, California!

I'm always respectful of others beliefs. I'll remain silent and hold hands if that's what's going on, but I do not join in the prayer nor say amen when it's finished. I don't believe in any god or messiah but I make sure to be respectful of those that do as long as it doesn't infringe on my right not to participate in their belief system.

This year I am not going to the part of my family that pray before every meal whether is it thanksgiving or not so I don't have to deal with that. When I am with them I do the same thing. I look around the room awkwardly and stay quiet for the duration of their prayer. Thankfully this year I am only having thanksgiving with my immediate family and they don't do any of that and know me as an open atheist.

Last Thanksgiving i gave thanks to Publix Supermarket and their wonderfull employees for making this wonderful food my mom told me i ruined Thanksgiving for her.

I do the same thing

I, too, look around waiting for it to all be over

When I was a youngster and attended family dinners at relatives homes I was part of this ridiculous ritual.But I always thought what about the starving people all over the world that don’t have any thing to be thankful for at this moment.What audacious crap to think that a God picked us to treat better than the rest .Plus why should I Thank a god ,I should thank the poor individual that had to work his ass of to make money to buy this food not god .The food did not just fall out of the sky on to the table .The concept of prayer is so moronic.

We are having Thanksgiving at my brother's this year and he is an Atheist, so I'm pretty sure that there won't be any praying. In past years we would take turns each year, but as we got older my dad would just say a quick prayer and we said "Amen" under our breath and went on cussing and being the heathens that we are.