The official definition of a Friendsgiving is “a Thanksgiving celebration with one’s friends, as opposed to one’s family.” Friendsgiving is an opportunity for people to celebrate with their closest friends, no matter their relationships with family. Some people either have a bad relationship with family, live a distance away from family, or just want to share thanks with more than family. Makenna Martin, a sophomore, says, “I am attending a Friendsgiving that my friend is hosting. I believe my friend is hosting one because she wants us to be thankful for all our friends and so she is bringing us all together to celebrate with each other.”  Friendsgiving could be done as a potluck, or only have one cook. Sometimes, Friendsgiving is just a get-together between those who do not experience normal Thanksgiving. Martin shares, “Instead of having traditional Thanksgiving food, we are all bringing different themed charcuterie boards. For instance, I am bringing a McDonald’s board and a chocolate board.” Friendsgiving can be altered to any day of the Thanksgiving week. It can be held on any day of November, including Thanksgiving. Friendsgiving is not only focused on friends. Lots of schools, clubs, and businesses put on Friendsgiving to bond with their peers.

Friendsgiving was created to provide an alternative option to those thinking of spending Thanksgiving alone. In a way, they save lonely people and provide stability for those who may live far away or have no family. Thanksgiving is seen as a family-focused holiday, and not everyone has the best relationship with their biological family. Some people do not have a relationship at all. Therefore, holidays like Thanksgiving are often forgotten by these people. Everyone should be involved on a day when everyone shares what they are thankful for. Martin says, “I definitely believe Friendsgiving is a positive thing because I am never sad when I am with my friends, and so it brings me a lot of happiness when I get to eat food and spend time with my friends.” Martin also shares that these are her two favorite things. In a lot of cases, friendships are tighter than a relationship with family; A lot of people have a ‘found family’ with their closest friends. Therefore, sometimes a Friendsgiving makes more sense than a Thanksgiving.

However, Friendsgiving could pose an issue with normal Thanksgiving. Similar to trunk-or-treat “overtaking” Halloween, Friendsgiving could become more popular than regular Thanksgiving dinners. Although it would not be the worst thing in the world, Thanksgiving should still come first. It is celebrated to recognize the blessings of the past year. Anyone can do that, whether it is with family or friends. Martin believes there is little risk of Friendsgiving overtaking Thanksgiving. She backs this up by saying, “Family is, most of the time, more important than friends, and I will still be attending both.” Tons of people attend feasts with both family and friends to spread more thanks during the holiday season. Friendsgiving could be a way to save Thanksgiving. Friendsgiving creates the opportunity for people who do not plan on celebrating to celebrate.

In conclusion, Friendsgiving is a way for everyone to be involved in a family-oriented holiday. No matter the issue a person may have with their loved ones, Friendsgiving opens a doorway for those lonely people. Friendsgiving is an unofficial holiday that is easily altered to however one wants. Whether it’s  times, traditions, or reasons, the options are endless. It is a very flexible activity that can be modified however someone wants it. Overall, it is a very helpful, easy, and pleasing tradition attended by many.