So this year, when a couple of our friends invited us to a "Friendsgiving" meal on the Saturday after the big day, we jumped at the opportunity. Not only would there be more leftovers (always a bonus), but we would also have the chance to experience one of our favorite meals with some of our favorite people. It was lovely; warm, relaxed, and delicious, minus any of the strain that can come with family ties.
This feast, featured on Camille Styles, takes the "Friendsgiving" idea even further. It's a celebration of season, friendship and fabulous food that's filled with inspiring ideas; from the decorations, to the menu, to the playlist. And the handcrafted table and chairs?? Without a doubt, my favorite part.
So tell me, have you ever celebrated "Friendsgiving"? If so, how did it go? How was that event different than a holiday meal spent with family?
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How about a FriendMas? I make plans with a few friends BEFORE Christmas so that we don't miss out on seeing each other for the holidays. A few are groups, others are just us 2-whoever that friend might be.
It's celebrating the season without having to run out and try and see everyone on that same day. Much more relaxing, stress free and I get to enjoy TIME with all my friends which is the best gift ever!
Yes. We were living abroad and wanted to replicate the feel of Thanksgiving with our new friends. Everyone brought a favorite dish from their childhood and we ate until we couldn't move.
Yes! Some friends started this tradition year ago. I only attended the first one but hope to return in the future. They occur the saturday before and usually involve friends traveling from all corners to attend.
We just finished our 7th annual Friendsgiving and it was a success as usual. For my friends and me, it is a very special event that we all look forward to each year. It's as important to us as one of the regular holidays and has become such an incredible tradition.
This year I hosted an orphan thanksgiving potluck- for friends in Brooklyn who don't have family here and were unable to travel home.
It was (almost) more fun than going home to family. Less drama, more ability to experiment with the menu
I celebrated my fourth Friendsgiving with college friends three weeks ago. It's been a strong tradition since our senior year. Now that we are spread all over the East Coast, it's great to see everyone at once. It's like we pick up right where we left off.
I love this event because it's a holiday tradition not filled with stress of family. I come from a very LARGE and LOUD Irish Catholic family, and holidays can be overstimulating, to put it politely. Friendsgiving has no real schedule, we'll sit down to eat when the food is done, and enjoy some cocktails while everything is simmering. I love how relaxed and traditional it feels.
This year we hit the cheese board pretty hard. We have to keep that in mind when mongering next year.
Don't forget to wear your autumnal best for a great fall photo shoot!
I went to a Friendsgiving as well, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was lovely to spend some of the weekend with my friend family, too!
We do "Fanksgiving" on Friday which is the same thing.
Fakesgiving! A lovely couple we are friends with hosts every year. It is always super fun, although there is always a bit of a rift between those who would keep it along traditional lines vs. those of us who would use it as an excuse to do something a bit different. That's about as dramatic as it gets, though, which is a bit of a blessing at holiday time.
We do "Grateful Giving" on the first Sunday of December. Soups, gratins, casseroles and LOTS of desserts. We build one long table out of plywood and sawhorses, and the only rule is you can't sit next to someone you came with. It's a great chance for us to mix and match the groups of friends we love.
I do a lunch for friends in early December. Same impetus -- food, warm friendships, love, appreciation. This year I'm doing a baked potato bar. I'm off to start shopping for it right now.
I only need to come up with a good dessert. I'm leaning toward profiteroles filled with peppermint icecream and drizzled with fudge sauce ...
My "sister-in-law" does Thanksmas the weekend before Thanksgiving. It started when the sister with whom she is sort of estranged hosted actual Thanksgiving and started being very artitrary about who would come and what they would eat, etc. Plus, my "sister-in-law" has a son living out of state, and he couldn't come for real Thanksgiving due to work conflicts. So now it's a tradition that they get together with my partner, her kids, and sometimes me and others for a celebration that subsitutes for both Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. (The real holidays are only for family members who are on hand those days.)
I say the more opportunities to eat great food together the better!
We weren't able to have our "Fakesgiving" this year because the main organizer moved to the opposite side of the country. Hopefully we'll all have enough money to go visit next year.
We had a friendsgiving this year! It was lovely, a very new baby and several small children, which made it even more fun than normal friend gatherings. We were lucky enough to be able to spend the holiday with both of our families as well, so that made for 3 turkey dinners! Not that I'm complaining, it was very tasty each time!
My friends from college and I have been having "FriendsGiving" (Which we actually call FamilyThanksgiving for some reason) for six years now. Some of us are married, and there are some changes to the guest list but it has been our tradition every year, the weekend after Thanksgiving. Now that we are all living more seperate lives than before, it's a great chance to stay connected to one another. (We have three or four "family traditions" throughout the year) PLUS we get to make whatever dishes we want in whatever way we want ;) I like the name Fakesgiving!
Friendsgiving is a wonderful idea! It's the first time I've heard of it. As an English person living in the USA I've never really understood Thanksgiving (give thanks for the indigenous population who saved your lives then more or less obliterate them...) so this is a wonderful new idea - thanks!