Hosting the Perfect Friendsgiving Meal

EFI, Your Atlanta English School, Offers Ideas For Having Thanksgiving with Your Friends

This year’s Thanksgiving in the United States is Thursday, November 26, 2020. It is an American holiday usually celebrated by sharing a meal with family. You might hear other names for it, like “Turkey Day,” but our favorite alternate name for the holiday is “Friendsgiving.” Not everyone can celebrate Thanksgiving with their family, so instead, people celebrate the day with their friends—hence the name “Friendsgiving.” This time of year is one of our favorites. As the premier Atlanta English School with virtual classes, EFI Online is here to share about Thanksgiving and how you can celebrate it with your friends.

History and Purpose of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving occurs each year on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a historic American holiday that was first celebrated in 1621 when Pilgrims (English colonists) and Native Americans shared a meal in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Now, Americans celebrate this holiday with family and friends by sharing a large meal (typically turkey) and expressing what they are thankful for. This is a national holiday in the U.S., and many businesses are closed for the day on Thanksgiving.

This holiday has origins tied to the suffering of indigenous peoples of the Americas. To honor Native Americans, some may recognize and participate in alternative tributes such as National Day of Mourning and Unthanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving has a long history. The main purpose of celebrating it each year is to take a moment to say thanks and enjoy the company of loved ones.

LEARN MORE About Thanksgiving

What is Friendsgiving?

Thanksgiving is usually celebrated by families. Friendsgiving is another way of celebrating the same holiday. For those who may not have a family to spend this holiday with, they can spend the day with friends. This is especially true for students at an Atlanta English School or who are studying abroad and have family and friends in another country. This holiday is for everyone! You can share a meal and give thanks with your best friends.

“Friendsgiving” is the word people use when they celebrate Thanksgiving with a group of friends instead of celebrating with immediate family. Friendsgiving is not a formal holiday, but it is a new take on the tradition of Thanksgiving. It takes place on the same day as Thanksgiving.

Atlanta English School Shares Ways to Celebrate Friendsgiving

The Friends

Everyone looks forward to the food, but the whole point of Friendsgiving is to spend time with your best friends. Figure out a date, time, and place that works well for everyone to meet. This is a great opportunity to get to know your classmates or co-workers a little better.

The Food

One of the best parts about studying English as a foreign language is that you get to meet people from all over the world. While every culture is different and unique, we all share a common interest: food! Make this the most delicious Friendsgiving ever by asking everyone to bring their favorite dish. With authentic meals from all over the globe, this is a great way to try new food and to learn about the background of these dishes.

The Fun

After trying all the delicious meals (and helping clean up), the fun has only just begun! Here are a few activity ideas with health and safety in mind.

Outdoor Movie Night

One of the best ways to stay spread out and still enjoy a night is to take it outside with a movie. All you’ll need is a projector and a blank wall, sheet, or screen to project the image on. You will also need good speakers. Make sure the movie you watch is appropriate to play in an outdoor setting (rated G or PG) and that the volume doesn’t disrupt any neighbors.

Outdoor Movie Setup Tips

Games

One great way to spend your Friendsgiving is by playing games. Two fun socially distant games that you can play are charades and trivia. With health and safety in mind during the current pandemic, playing games that require contact or sharing pieces, such as board games or card games, is not advised.

Hiking

Amicalola Falls State Park

Georgia has a lot of great places to explore. If the weather is nice this Thanksgiving, this could be a great time to get outside and enjoy the sights Georgia has to offer.

Here are some of our favorite Georgia State Parks:

Providence Canyon State Park – located in South Georgia, known as our “Little Grand Canyon”

Tallulah Gorge State Park – located in North Georgia, this is a beautiful place with waterfalls and canyons

Amicalola Falls State Park – located in North Georgia, this is home to what many consider the state’s best waterfall

Sweetwater Creek State Park – located in Atlanta, this is a great local spot for hiking and the home to a few small ruins as seen in blockbuster movies

Don’t forget: Stay safe!

We all want to relax and enjoy this holiday season, but we still have to remember to take health and safety precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Close indoor gatherings are recommended only for parties that live together. In other words, you can enjoy a normal Friendsgiving with your roommates or anyone else you live with.

If you are going to celebrate with people whom you do not live with, please note these precautions. The CDC cautions against visiting from long distances for the holidays. Stay safe by reducing the number of people who can come if possible. Make sure that you have the space to practice safe social distancing. Consider eating outside for safer air circulation.

The CDC has an accurate and up-to-date guide about how to celebrate holidays this year. We highly encourage you to review it before making plans.

READ MORE on CDC.gov

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