Is Friendsgiving a Potluck? Exploring the New Tradition of Celebrating Thanksgiving with Friends
Friendsgiving is a relatively new tradition that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It is a celebration of Thanksgiving with friends, typically held on a day other than the actual holiday but some celebrate it on Thanksgiving. The idea behind Friendsgiving is to gather with close friends and enjoy a potluck-style meal together, especially if they are unable to be with family during the holiday season.
While Friendsgiving is a casual and laid-back affair, there are still some guidelines to follow when it comes to the potluck aspect. Guests should coordinate with each other ahead of time to ensure a good variety of dishes and avoid any duplicate items. It’s also important to consider any dietary restrictions or allergies when planning what to bring. With a little bit of planning and communication, Friendsgiving can be a fun and delicious way to celebrate the season with friends.
What is Friendsgiving?
One of the defining characteristics of Friendsgiving is the potluck aspect. Unlike a traditional Thanksgiving meal, where one person or family is responsible for preparing the entire feast, Friendsgiving is a collaborative effort. Each guest brings a dish to share, resulting in a diverse and eclectic spread of food. This not only takes the pressure off the host, but it also allows everyone to showcase their culinary skills and share their favorite dishes.
Friendsgiving is a casual event, and there are no strict rules or guidelines to follow. It is typically held on or around Thanksgiving Day, but it can also be celebrated on any other day in November. The host usually sets the theme or tone for the event, and guests are encouraged to bring a dish to share.
Friendsgiving is more than just a meal. It is a time to bond with friends and create new memories. It is a time to express gratitude and appreciate the people in our lives. Friendsgiving can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be, but the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the company of good friends.
How to Host a Friendsgiving Potluck?
Choose a Date and Time
The first step in hosting a successful Friendsgiving potluck is to choose a date and time that works for everyone. Since Friendsgiving is typically held in addition to or instead of a traditional Thanksgiving celebration, it’s important to coordinate with your friends to find a time that works for everyone. Consider hosting the event on the weekend before or after Thanksgiving to avoid conflicts with family gatherings.
Create a Guest List
Once you’ve settled on a date and time, it’s time to create your guest list. Friendsgiving is all about spending time with your chosen family, so invite your closest friends and loved ones. You can also encourage your guests to bring a friend or significant other to help expand your circle of friends and make the event even more festive.
Assign Dishes to Guests
A potluck-style Friendsgiving means that everyone will be bringing a dish to share. To ensure that you have a variety of dishes and that everyone’s dietary preferences are taken into account, consider assigning dishes to your guests. You can either assign specific dishes or ask your guests to bring dishes that fit within a certain category, such as appetizers, sides, or desserts.
Set the Table and Decorate
Setting the table and decorating your space can make your Friendsgiving potluck feel even more special. Consider using fall-themed decorations such as pumpkins, leaves, and candles to set the mood. You can also ask your guests to bring their own plates, cups, and utensils to reduce waste and make cleanup easier.
Enjoy the Meal and Give Thanks
Finally, it’s time to enjoy the meal and give thanks for the wonderful friends and family in your life. Take time to savor each dish and enjoy the company of your loved ones. You can also go around the table and ask each guest to share what they’re thankful for this year. Remember, Friendsgiving is all about celebrating the people in your life who make it special.
Friendsgiving Potluck Theme Ideas
Friendsgiving is a time to gather with friends and enjoy a potluck-style Thanksgiving meal. It’s a great opportunity to try new dishes and create new traditions. Here are some ideas to make your Friendsgiving potluck a success.
1. Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes
While Friendsgiving is a chance to mix things up, there’s no reason to completely abandon traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Consider having a turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes as the main course. These dishes are easy to make and will satisfy everyone’s cravings for classic Thanksgiving flavors.
If you want to mix things up a bit, try adding a twist to these dishes. For example, instead of traditional stuffing, try making a cornbread stuffing with sausage and apples. Or, instead of plain mashed potatoes, add some roasted garlic and chives for extra flavor.
2. Friendsgiving Around the World
One way to make your Friendsgiving potluck more interesting is to pick a creative theme. For example, you could have a “Friendsgiving Around the World” theme, where everyone brings a dish from a different country.
These can be dishes from their country of origin or just a favorite place that your friends have visited. This is a great way to taste foods from all over the world and try different cultures.
3. Thanksgiving Throwback
Or, you could have a “Thanksgiving Throwback” theme, where everyone brings a dish that reminds them of their childhood Thanksgivings. These could include dishes from the 1950s like odd Jell-o concoctions.
Other favorites would be congealed salads, and food pairings that are not as popular now as they were in years past.
4. Leftovers Potluck
Another fun idea is to have a “Leftovers Potluck” theme, where everyone brings a dish made from Thanksgiving leftovers. This is a great way to use up all those leftovers and create new dishes that everyone will love.
I love to see how others use up leftover sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and of course the many different ways to use up cooked turkey!
5. Anti- Thanksgiving
For those that just want to forget anything related to Thanksgiving, you may want to go completely against the traditional Thanksgiving foods. Some ideas would be to do an Italian Dinner, Cookout with hotdogs, hamburgers, and steak, or even go with a Mexican themed meal.
6. Rainbow Friendsgiving
The theme of having a color party potluck is huge right now, so why not incorporate it into your Friendsgiving. You can assign colors to each guests and request that they bring items like a Green Side Dish, a Red Dessert, or a Yellow Side Dish.
This makes for a very colorful table top of food and makes your guests really put on their creative hats to meet their assigned color.
Fun Activities and Games for Friendsgiving
Friendsgiving is not just about the food, it’s also about spending time with friends and having fun. Consider incorporating some fun activities and games into your Friendsgiving celebration. For example, you could have a “Thanksgiving Trivia” game, where everyone answers questions about Thanksgiving history and traditions.
Another fun activity is to have a “Friendsgiving Photo Booth” set up, where everyone can take pictures with Thanksgiving-themed props. This is a great way to capture memories from your Friendsgiving celebration.
Overall, Friendsgiving is a great opportunity to create new traditions and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with friends. With these ideas, you can make your Friendsgiving potluck a memorable and fun event.
Friendsgiving Tradition
Hosting a potluck Friendsgiving can be a great way to spread the workload and ensure that everyone gets to contribute to the meal. It also allows for a wider variety of dishes and flavors, as each guest can bring their own unique take on a classic Thanksgiving dish. Plus, it can be a lot of fun to try new dishes and see what your friends come up with.
While some may prefer a more traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, a potluck Friendsgiving can be a great alternative for those who want to mix things up and try something new. It also takes some of the pressure off the host, who doesn’t have to spend the whole day in the kitchen preparing a feast.
Overall, Friendsgiving is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season with the people you care about most. Whether you opt for a potluck or a more formal meal, the most important thing is to enjoy the company of your friends and give thanks for all the blessings in your life.
