A Carousel Picture of My Friends The Xavierite
Thanksgiving supper doesn’t always satisfy our crave for food and conversation. Throwing a Friendsgiving dinner gives us a perfect time to bond, celebrate, and give gratitude to our friendships.
I was always used to prepping food with my mom and sisters each Thanksgiving day and it was always filled with the most heartwarming laughter and my failed attempts at cooking.
From noon to evening, it was a group effort to gather several dishes such as mac and cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and ham (it would alternate to turkey every other year).
Each one of my family members had a set food duty to accomplish by dinner. I took part in baking a sweet potato pie, which I’d say is my best work.
The day always ended in my parents digging out christmas decorations from the depths of the closet. This led to a beautifully lit Christmas tree at our window by the end of the night.
We had a series of small traditions for this day that we’d bond closely over. Unfortunately, this year I won’t be able to share those same traditions again with my immediate family.
They’ll be in Texas heat that’ll make you forget that the winter holidays are coming, while I’m here in Chicago, where the weather couldn’t.
Thanksgiving can’t always be celebrated with family for a multitude of reasons. I don’t think it should eliminate the purpose of the holiday altogether.
I don’t think traditions like my family could die, but could be reborn in a different form. I immediately thought about the chance of this holiday being reborn as Friendsgiving.
My closest friends have become my family and I want to give them my gratitude for their support and form new traditions to bond over with them.
So easily, these people can become family in a time where we are sharing the same hardships. With school exams, work, and the struggles of growing into an adult, these people become our shoulders to lean on.
For those that are dorming and away from their family, these friendships are the next closest thing to family. They are there when you get an A on the exam or when you totally fail it horribly.
Whether it’s the day of Thanksgiving or a separate day, we should make dinner with friends a priority in the following weeks. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or gourmet either.
There are no rules to follow, it’s a blank slate to build on. It could be a potluck style, one person cooks, or everyone cooks together on the day of the dinner. There’s so many ways to celebrate and make it special.
Similar to a potluck, I had a small celebration last year and told everyone to bring their favorite bag of chips as a form of a “plate of food”. It was a dream come true, with Takis and Hot Freetos filling the room.
In comparison to the year prior to this, I was invited to a friendsgiving where we all brought a dish of real food. It was the first time I had tried any of my friends cooking and realized they were close to gourmet chefs.
Sitting at a table with all my friends and sharing a meal the way I did, felt like sitting with family. I don’t remember the last time I told my friends that I love them, and sending an “ILY” through text doesn’t count.
I’m looking forward to a Friendsgiving dinner this year, and putting myself in a space of people that have so much love and support for one another. I want to make it known that their friendship doesn’t go unnoticed.
We should make it a priority to tell our friends that we love them, that we are thankful for their shoulder, because tomorrow with them is not always promised. Friendsgiving is the perfect day for that.