Written by Alexandra Arnold
There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends who become family.” – Unknown.
Clarksville, TN – Long gone are the days when everyone can sit around the dinner table and have a Thanksgiving meal with their family members. In the new days of personal autonomy, many people don’t feel the need or want to go home to their families – whether it be because of politics, identity, or their own well-being.
In Clarksville, we share the holiday season with lots of APSU students and a large military population. Many members of those communities can’t go home to their families for Thanksgiving. Traveling can be a large expense, and some families may not want to take that on so close to the winter holidays. There are a multitude of reasons why some may wish to stay home for the holiday – or find a new alternative.
Friendsgiving is not new. For instance, it has existed on television for years. Many credit the television sitcom “Friends” as having sparked the trend. The season one episode titled “The One Where the Underdog Got Away” shows the friends celebrating the holiday together for the first time.
So, how might someone go about planning such a get-together? Well, there are many things one must think about before the big day. Theme, food, day, time, number of guests, and games/activities are all things to be considered.
The first thing that is essential to planning a Friendsgiving is the theme. Are you going to go traditional or non-traditional? Is this going to be a normal Thanksgiving dinner but with friends, or is it going to be a potluck, a party, or even a brunch? Your Friendsgiving can be anything you want it to be!
The theme of your get-together also includes the food. Again, will it be traditional with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and the rest of the essentials? Or is it going to be hors d’oeuvres? You could even have a mix of both! One of the most important parts of Thanksgiving dinner is the pie. Usually, pumpkin pie or pecan pie is served. Since Friendsgiving is a bit different, you could go with something a little different.
Regarding the date and time to have the get-together, most people still celebrate Thanksgiving. Because of this, having your Friendsgiving event on a different day may be best. The weekend before or the weekend after are both good options. Any time would work, but an earlier hour (perhaps noon or early afternoon) may better complete the Friendsgiving atmosphere. A later time would fit a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but an earlier time would better fit an event with friends.
The number of guests is also an important aspect to think about while planning. Is this going to be a shindig or a smaller affair? A group of 10-15 friends is ideal, but as long as you have the space, any number works.
While games and activities are not a must, they can add to your Friendsgiving and make it more fun and memorable. Karaoke is always a good choice, as are charades. However, there are more fall and Thanksgiving-themed things you can do for your gathering. One option is to have all of your guests write down what they’re thankful for. This can be on plain pieces of paper, but you can also make it more festive with colored pieces of paper or cut-out shapes. At the end of the night, you can read off what everyone wrote.
When planning a Friendsgiving any event for that matter – Pinterest is a lifesaver. You can create a board for your party to save ideas like recipes, games, and decor. Even places like TikTok may help you with your planning.
At the end of the day, your Friendsgiving is whatever you want it to be. It’s an opportunity to spend time with friends, have great food, and remember what you’re most thankful for in life. That’s something that can be accomplished without a fancy Thanksgiving dinner.
