How to have a friendsgiving

Thanksgiving isn’t just about family that’s blood related. Thanksgiving is about being thankful for all the family we’ve gained along the way; blood or otherwise. That’s why I’ve always thought having a Friendsgiving would be a great way to include everyone you’re grateful for this holiday season. Not sure how to go about doing that? Let me give you some tips on how to have a Friendsgiving!

How to have a Friendsgiving

Don’t Do It on Thanksgiving

Most people already have plans from year to year to spend Thanksgiving at a relative’s house. This can be important to many so there’s no sense in cutting into their usual holiday plans. Friends are supportive, not burdensome. Odds are, you yourself had plans to spend it with family, if not, more on that later. Choose another day around the holidays and make it just like a Thanksgiving get together would be.

Have All Your Favorite Choices

As friends, y’all get inside jokes or know each other well enough that you know everyone’s favorites. Don’t make it rigid like the usual family get togethers. Be a little looser and have everyone bring their favorites. If you end up with four different stuffings and no other sides, oh well, y’all have your favorites so it’s a laughable memory. That’s what a Friendsgiving is all about – putting aside norms and just having fun with it.

Offer It on Thanksgiving if Need Be

Just touch base with your friends. If you don’t have plans to join family on Thanksgiving, maybe some friends are needing a family for the holidays as well. Put your feelers out there and see if everyone has plans, if not, offer them a Friendsgiving at your place on Thanksgiving Day. It can get too depressing for some folks to spend the holidays alone and I don’t think anyone should have to go through that loneliness. Especially if they have a friend who would like some friends and family over as well.

Be Flexible

Offer a roundabout starting time and suggest some food ideas for everyone to bring. Other than that, just be open to whatever. Don’t make it a set, rigid schedule everyone has to follow. The holidays are busy and stressful as it is without adding yet another “hurry up and get there” sort of day. Let people show when they can make it and just have your door open for most of that day for people to come and go as they need to. This takes off a ton of stress on everyone and lets them just enjoy the day without having to rush and feel bad if they’re late.

Overall, Thanksgiving is about being thankful. We don’t want our friends and family to dread the one holiday where they’re supposed to feel blessed more than anything. That’s what a Friendsgiving is all about – enjoying the blessing of friendship and having an extra family you’ve picked up along the way. Most of all, enjoy it, don’t stress it because then it defeats the purpose.