The holiday season is synonymous with traditions: things like unearthing a time-honored turkey recipe, strategically placing meaningful decorations, and attending festive community events come to mind. But a new tradition has popped up in recent years rooted in gratitude for your chosen family.
Friendsgiving is, typically, a festive holiday meal shared amongst friends during the weeks leading up to Turkey Day itself. This has rapidly become a cherished tradition, and we’re connecting with veteran hosts to share tips and tricks for a successful gathering.
Divide and Conquer
The holidays can be jam-packed and a bit stressful, so don’t feel pressured to put together a full Friendsgiving meal alone! If you’re gathering your gal pals or bringing families together, consider hosting your event potluck-style so each attendee is responsible for one item. And if kids are coming, guests should be responsible for accommodating their picky eaters.
Designate ownership over seasonal apps, cocktails or mocktails, and festive desserts, then turn your attention to decorations and making the perfect main.
Prepare in Advance
Veteran host Megan Brady considers Friendsgiving the highlight of her year, and her overarching piece of advice is to prepare early. Once the date is set, pick a theme, make a menu, select your recipes, and start gathering ingredients to mitigate any of that last-minute scrambling we’ve all experienced during meal prep.
A few of Megan’s pro tips and considerations: plan your serving ware in advance so each item has a designated dish, and be mindful about cooking times and oven space (a lot of traditional dishes require ample baking time).
Our Friendsgiving quarterback also let us in on a secret – she outsources a few dishes instead of having everything scratch-made. “Last year, I did boxed mashed potatoes and didn’t tell anyone. Everyone raved about how good they were.” She also acquired a pre-made turkey from Whole Foods, which opened up significant space in the oven for more dynamic dishes.
Remember: There Are No Rules
While the name and the timing may feel like the meal should default to a traditional turkey dinner, remember that Friendsgiving is all about connecting with dear friends. There are no rules when it comes to the menu, so when Fieldstone Farms resident Amy Phillips hosted a gathering for eight adults and 19 children, she made it easy.
“We picked up Costco pizzas and pies, and it was the most fun Friendsgiving ever,” she says. “Thanksgiving food becomes less special if you have it too many times, so we prioritize that for celebrating the holiday with family.”
Have Fun With It
I consider hosting a personality trait, and my ultimate advice is to mitigate stress and focus on fun. For me, that means thoughtful decorations (pro tip: Trader Joe’s has affordable mini pumpkins and excellent fall flowers), a pretty presentation (see: prepare in advance), and experimenting in the kitchen (I’m a beginner, so this is a daily occurrence anyway). I thoroughly enjoy saving recipe and decor ideas from social media, connecting with friends and family to learn their favorite traditions, and creating a space meant to make a memory.
When I host, I focus on the senses: taste is obviously important, but is there a nice playlist audible in the background? Can we see ambient candles and fresh flowers? Is there comfortable seating? Is there a simmer pot or seasonal candle wafting through the air? These touches always help enhance a get-together.
Ultimately, your Friendsgiving celebration should be whatever you want it to be. With a little thoughtful preparation, be it placing that Costco order, delegating dishes, or whipping up a full spread on your own, remember the ultimate goal: connection, gratitude, and fellowship.