Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving Day is an American tradition.   Legend is a 1621 feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts was prompted by a good harvest, which the Pilgrims celebrated with Native Americans, who helped them pass the last winter by giving them food in the time of scarcity. On October 31, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential proclamation making the holiday to the next to last Thursday in November.   Two years later, on December 26, 1941, he signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the national Thanksgiving Day from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday.

Recently, Millennials and Gen Z’s have added a new twist to the observation of Thanksgiving.  Friendsgiving adds the gift of friendship to the other blessings.  According to the Urban Dictionary; “Friendsgiving is the celebration of a Thanksgiving dinner with your friends.”   It refers to a large meal eaten with friends either on or near Thanksgiving. Young people are serious about their Friendsgiving celebrations: The internet if full of instructions, sample menus, rules, and even commandments for Friendsgiving. Initially, Friendsgiving was a much less formal celebration of a Thanksgiving meal. 

For traditional church people, a Friendsgiving meal might be like a church potluck held in the confines of someone’s home or apartment.  Everyone who attends agrees in advance to bring something.  The host is responsible for cooking the turkey and making sure there is a proper table setting for each guest.  A good guest also brings along a bottle of wine to share and an appropriate gift for the host. 

Some of the Friendsgiving Commandments include:

Thou shalt not plan to cook/prep/assemble food in the host’s kitchen.

Thou shalt remember thy friends with allergies.

Thou shalt not be offended if no one eats your dish.

Thou shalt not critique any dish — including your own.

Whether it is a traditional Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving you celebrate, I pray that you enjoy the fellowship and take time to also remember our God who is the Giver of all good things.