Fall marks the beginning of the holiday season, with people everywhere booking plane tickets and planning to head home for the holidays, they don’t forget to include friends in the mix of also visiting family.On this special holiday we usually share special meals, and give thanks for everything we’re grateful for. 

In the past five years or so, hosting a Thanksgiving meal among friends a week before the actual holiday has become a standard part of the celebration for many young adults, they call it a “Friendsgiving”.

“I think a lot of people do Friendsgiving because they think it’s a cute trend that so many others do and/or they just consider their friends as family and want to spend the holiday not only with family but with friends,” senior Stephania Lopez said.

It is an imposition to ask everyone to gather for a Thanksgiving meal a week or so before they’ll have another, so most of the time Friendsgiving is celebrated with easy, usually premade meals. 

“This year me and my friends went the easy way and just bought pre-made easy food like pizza, and chicken tenders because none of us are good cooks or had time to cook but it’s okay because it’s not about the food it’s about the quality time spent together,” senior Amaia Herrerías said.

Slapping a catchy name onto an existing concept can, and most probably will catch peoples attention especially when it’s being advertised all over the place. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the trend but I think most people really take the time to show love and spread love especially since they know what it’s like to be quarantined from close friends and family. 

“Since COVID, this has been the first time in a while that the holidays feel like they’re getting back to normal. No masks or people limit. To me Friendsgiving is special because it is a time to show your friends how much you appreciate them and show them that you care to spend quality time with them,” senior Isabela Fernandez said.

There is no set Friendsgiving. It can be whatever you make it. It’s so diverse because everybody celebrates it in different ways, with different food, and different traditions. 

No matter how everyone celebrates, it is for one reason. To reflect on everything  and everyone  they are grateful for.

“My favorite part is being able to eat delicious food with all my friends and the positive energy we all bring to the table while we’re talking and eating, and just hanging out,” Lopez said.