As the crisp autumn air settles in and the trees transform into a riot of reds and golds, there’s a certain buzz that signals the arrival of Friendsgiving. It’s not your typical family affair—this is about gathering your crew for a feast of comfort food, laughter, and the juiciest gossip. Friendsgiving is where stories flow as freely as the wine, and the memories linger long after the leftovers are gone. Unlike holidays that revolve around family, this one is all about celebrating the unsung heroes – your friends – the ones who deserve more than just one day of love and appreciation.
Zazzle is here to explain how you can raise a toast to your besties, BFFs, and ride-or-dies. From sending out invitations to planning activities, everything you need to know about this substitute Cranberry Day is detailed here. And yes, there may even be a few references to FRIENDS later on, too!
What Is Friendsgiving?
Compared to the grand conventions of Thanksgiving dinner, Friendsgiving is typically a looser, informal gathering. Rather than having to take place on the last Thursday of November, Friendsgiving is a moveable feast: it can be held in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving or in the days directly after it, to avoid any overlap. Indeed, Friendsgiving doesn’t even have to take the form of a dinner, and can adopt more of a party atmosphere. The emphasis, as with Thanksgiving, is on showing appreciation for the ones we love – particularly our friends (and acquaintances, colleagues, sympathizers, associates, compadres, and contemporaries). If you can’t get home to your family for Thanksgiving, then a Friendsgiving away from home is a fun alternative.
Send Your Friendsgiving Invites
Friendsgiving is generally more casual than the kind of regal meal we associate with Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean you need to pass on the stationery! Sending a Friendsgiving invitation to each attendee could be one way to show how much you cherish and appreciate them. Alongside listing information about the date, time, and venue, ask for their input on the menu or activities, leaving those details TBC. And if you do want to keep things low-key and easy-going, mail each person a digital invite instead.
Prepare Your Friendsgiving Menu
Friendsgiving dinner prep shouldn’t involve one friend schlepping a turkey home from the store or sweating over a hot oven for hours on end. Instead, spread out the workload and cut costs by hosting a potluck supper, to which every friend contributes a dish. Friendsgiving dinners tend to be more diverse and eclectic than traditional Thanksgiving meals, so mix it up with Asian, European, or Mediterranean cuisine on the menu. And if the thought of another holiday spent cooking really seems like a friendship-ender, make a restaurant reservation or hire a caterer to free up your Friendsgiving itinerary.
Display Friendsgiving Décor
Of course, to get everyone into the party mood, some Friendsgiving decorations are a must. Hang a wreath of fall foliage on your front door, source pumpkins and gourds for the patio, and place jars or bowls of potpourri in the bathroom. Make your friends feel loved and welcome by whisking them down memory lane: set picture frames on display or create a photo collage to pin on the wall. Finally, you can evoke a cozy fall vibe with generous use of throw pillows, blankets, and scented candles. Think Stars Hollow and the Gilmore Girls opening sequence – that’s the wholesome, autumnal feel you’re going for. And if you still need more inspiration than Luke’s Diner or the Dragonfly Inn can provide, read “Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas for a Memorable Feast.”
Plan a Friendsgiving Game Night
Trust us, nothing brings people together like board, card, or video games: they’re an opportunity to improve your communication skills, strengthen nascent relationships, and breed some friendly competition. Team games, like Pictionary and Go Fish, can be particularly thrilling, and you can pit old friends against new, boys against girls, or work colleagues against classmates. If you have the space, or if the late-November weather allows for it, set up lawn games in the backyard, like cornhole, Topple Tower, or Fast Four, and watch the hours fly by. Then you can really burn off those Thanksgiving-Friendsgiving calories! For more fun ideas, check out this article: “Game On! Turning a Bored Night into a Board Night.”
Pivot Towards a FRIENDS-Giving
For most people, friendship reached its apex in Greenwich Village between 1994 and 2004. Although the six friends had some problems too – who can forget Joey was stuck in a turkey, or Chandler was trapped in a box? – FRIENDS still provides a model example of how Thanksgiving should be celebrated. This year, urge your loved ones to come dressed as their favorite bit-characters (perhaps stopping short of impersonating Janice’s annoying laugh). Plan a rewatch of your favorite episodes, like “The One Where No One’s Ready.” Or compete in a game of tag football for the coveted Gellar Cup!
Organize a Friendsgiving Brunch
Friendsgiving celebrations don’t have to take place in the late afternoon or evening, either. Why not opt for a lazy brunch instead, where you only roll out of bed in the mid-to-late morning, and loll about with mimosas in hand for the rest of the day? Save the potatoes and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving itself, and serve up some pancakes, sliced fruit, and French toast. Brunches are typically casual meals, with an emphasis on socializing and indulgent food, making them the perfect Friendsgiving treat. You can even present each participant with a favor or gift at your luncheon!
Host a Friendsgiving Movie Marathon
If you’d rather dive into a movie than binge-watch a TV show, why not schedule a Friendsgiving movie marathon? Pick a line-up of films that are set around Thanksgiving, and ensure that every audience member is stocked up on popcorn, pretzels, and sugary snacks. Learn the true meaning of friendship with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1989). Thank your lucky stars that not all house guests are as abrasive as Peppermint Patty in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973). And cower in fear at the surprisingly large number of Thanksgiving-set horror movies. Good company and good entertainment – what more could you ask for?
Here at Zazzle, we consider every reader a friend, a pal, and a confidant – and that’s why we always endeavor to go the extra mile for you. For instance, we’ve also compiled some general advice for Turkey Day in our “Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving” article, and while Friendsgiving is a different feast, the recipes, YouTube videos, and Pinterest links should prove helpful. Let us know in the comments below what your plans are for Friendsgiving!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
