by Allison Shaw
Thanksgiving has the unfortunate fate of being sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas, and therefore typically is seen as a buffer holiday, which truly doesn’t do the holiday justice. The concept of a holiday where people come together to celebrate things they are thankful for is a beautiful one, so why not celebrate with your friends? Friendsgiving, which gets its name from the combination of ‘friends’ and ‘thanksgiving’, is a wonderful way to get together and celebrate with others. As Thanksgiving draws closer and we consider what we are thankful for, friendship is absolutely something which could be found on that list. So, why not combine the two? Here are a few reasons why you should consider throwing a Friendsgiving bash this year.
Firstly, the star of the show on Thanksgiving isn’t actually what we’re celebrating it for, but the food. Food and friends go hand in hand, so it seems only natural to throw a get together where everyone gets to eat together, perhaps outside of Commons or in a different environment. If done potluck style, Friendsgiving can be easy, affordable, and fun! Just ask everyone attending to bring their own dish, and there will be plenty of food to go around. Dishes don’t have to be limited to traditional Thanksgiving food- for a fun twist, try coming up with an interesting theme for everyone to stick to! Try having everyone bring something that starts with the first letter of their name, their favorite food, or assign everyone a different color. Tik Tok has lots of great theme ideas, and is a great place to start.
Secondly, the end of the semester and finals week is approaching, perhaps quicker than any of us would like. Pretty soon most Maroons will be jam packed with assignments and studying, so get-togethers and parties might not fit onto the schedule. So, take Thanksgiving as an opportunity to get together before life gets hectic; to spend time with our friends and appreciate the connections we’ve made here at Roanoke College before we leave for winter break. Give yourself a break and some time to have fun because holidays are all about connecting with others, and this absolutely includes our friends! So, head to whoever’s dorm has the best common room, and get your fun themed dishes together, and have some fun. Happy Thanksgiving!
