Before winter set in, November was the month of giving thanks. American Thanksgiving was a time to express gratitude for loved ones and is typically celebrated with a family dinner on the fourth Thursday of November. Throughout the years, different ways to celebrate this holiday have emerged with the most popular one being Friendsgiving.
Although the origins of Friendsgiving are still unknown, the first usage of the term started in 2007. Similar to Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving was a celebration where friends, co-workers and classmates gathered together for a meal sometime around Thanksgiving day. Friendsgiving allowed people to give thanks for the friends in their lives.
West Ranch junior Sydney Kim hosts a Friendsgiving every year.“I think that the idea of Friendsgiving is a good way to take time and enjoy time with your friends while being stress-free from academics,” she explained.
Friendsgiving also became an annual tradition for West Ranch ASB. Sophomore ASB Member Graham Melikidse described the ASB celebration held on the weekend before Thanksgiving: “It is a yearly tradition for the underclassmen and upperclassmen to host separate Friendsgivings to have fun and to get to know one another.”
With dinner being the main part of the night, the meal is typically a potluck with everything from traditional Thanksgiving food to fast food and homemade baked goods. Melikidse explained, “It is always great to see all the great food that people make or bring. Personally, I usually bring homemade cookies, but other people bring things like pizza, mac n’ cheese or even a whole turkey.”
A potluck was part of the annual tradition for both Melikidse and Kim, and while the food always differed, the meal was always an essential part of the holiday. Kim keeps one tradition the same each time: “Every year I set a dress code and the dress code is always pajamas. I always want everyone to be chill and comfy.”
Although the celebration is surrounding the meal, the people you spend the holiday with are what matter the most. When asked why she holds a Friendsgiving celebration, Kim remarked, “I enjoy hanging out with my friends during the fall weather and eating. We just talk for hours and there is always so much laughter.”
To have some fun and get to know each other better, the celebration could never be complete without playing some games. One of Melikidse’s favorite activities to do with friends and family is play “Left Right Center” which is a “fun dice-based party game where everyone puts in three one-dollar bills and the winner gets all of the money.”
Friendsgiving offers students the opportunity to de-stress. With different types of food, games and socializing, students were able to have fun with friends and share appreciation towards their classmates.
With finals week nearing, celebrating Friendsgiving during the break gave a chance for students to relax and spend time with friends before the stressful time. Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time for the winter season. Happy holidays Wildcats!
