Thanksgiving is one of the hallmarks of American holidays. It’s a special day to express gratitude and spend time with your loved ones. Typically, Thanksgiving is spent with one’s own family. However, recently, a spin-off of this holiday has been growing in popularity–especially among younger crowds.
In recent years, Friendsgiving has become a beloved tradition for many people. In addition to spending time with family, Friendsgiving offers a chance to share the holiday with friends and strengthen friendships. Emma Wang (10) says that “Friendsgiving is so special to me; I get to reunite with friends I don’t see very often, and we’re able to just catch up, have fun, and eat.” Whether you’re hosting a small group or a larger party, here are some creative ideas to make your Friendsgiving one to remember!
First, at the heart of both Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving is the food. Assembling dishes and cooking together is a great way to spend the holiday. Everyone could sign up to bring an ingredient, and then, altogether, create the best, mouthwatering dishes in the kitchen! Traditional Thanksgiving dishes include turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie.
If you can’t cook together for the sake of time, a potluck is also an excellent alternative. This way, you and your friends can contribute your favorite dishes to the table. It doesn’t have to be traditional Thanksgiving dishes either; they can be unique and even represent your own culture. Also, each guest could share the recipe of their dish, and you can compile these recipes into a Friendsgiving recipe book. This could make for a cool keepsake and encourage everyone to try out each other’s recipes!
Speaking of delicious food, a fun twist could be to have a baking competition. Everyone could volunteer to bring their own homemade dessert. After the main course is done, you and your friends will taste each dessert and decide on a winner. There could be categories such as “Best Presentation,” “Best Tasting,” and “Most Creative.”
After dinner, there are numerous fun activities to try during Friendsgiving. For example, you can set up a craft station or even a fall-themed photo booth. The group could make DIY leaf garlands, painted turkey handprints, gratitude messages, or even tiny cornucopias. For the photo booth, set up a backdrop and fall-themed props, such as hats, mustaches, scarves, and signs. This is a great way to bring home a special keepsake, as well.
To end the night, play games or watch movies with your friends! Some possible games could be board games, card games, bingo, a scavenger hunt, pictionary, trivia, or solving a murder mystery. Here are some “Would You Rather…” questions to try out:
- Would you rather have to eat Thanksgiving food for a whole month or never eat Thanksgiving food again?
- Would you rather become a pilgrim for the day or become a turkey for the day?
- Would you rather be the one who has to cook the entire meal or be the one who has to wash dishes after?
- Would you rather have to eat cranberry sauce all day or have to eat gravy all day?
- Would you rather never celebrate Thanksgiving again or never celebrate Halloween again?
Going on a movie marathon could also be really fun, too. Consider watching holiday classics such as A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Be sure to set up a comfy viewing area with blankets, pillows, and a bowl of popcorn.
Friendsgiving is yet another amazing part of the Thanksgiving holiday. From eating dinner to playing games with friends, this occasion will certainly bring unforgettable memories with the people you cherish most. Happy Friendsgiving, Mustangs!
