Thanksgiving has become a holiday steeped in tradition and served best with a healthy helping of gravy. For years families have used Turkey Day as an opportunity to celebrate life’s beautiful moments and express gratitude for the gift of togetherness.
Unsurprisingly, many have developed family-specific traditions that continue to grow and develop over time. Certainly Thanksgiving is a holiday tied to customs and rituals, but what happens when we consciously choose to break the mold, experiment, and create something new?
For starters, consider hosting a Friendsgiving.
The term “Friendsgiving” appeared circa 2007 when cronies around the country created an added opportunity to get together and celebrate friendship during the holiday season. With social media, the idea rapidly gained popularity, and more and more people began planning holiday-themed get-togethers. While everyone loves a good home-cooked meal, the holidays are often stressful, and it’s no secret extended family members don’t always play nice in the sandbox. So, why not generate an extra excuse to enjoy food and celebrate a stress-free Turkey Day surrounded by your chosen kin?
When it comes to past Friendsgivings, Cam and I have certainly done our fair share of dabbling in the unconventional. During my first year in Arizona he and a friend drove from Oklahoma City to Tucson to spend the holiday with me and our friend, Carolyn. The four of us prepared a traditional Thanksgiving meal and enjoyed one another’s company from the comfort of our deck overlooking the desert mountains. Thanksgiving outside? Yes, it was as glorious as it sounds.
The following year, Cam once again drove west with a (different) friend to connect in Tucson before the three of us headed north. As chronicled in “‘Purple Mountain’s [Canyon’s] Majesty'”, we set up shop in Sedona and drove to the Grand Canyon before the sun rose Thanksgiving morning. We picnicked while overlooking the Colorado River and spent a magical holiday giving thanks for nature’s abundant beauty while hiking one of the seven natural wonders of the world. There’s nothing like the power of nature to flex your gratitude muscle and reshape your perspective. Thanksgiving 2015 was one of the most unique opportunities I have had, and I don’t know if I’ll ever experience a more memorable Turkey Day.
This year, we wanted to organize a Minnesota Friendsgiving with our good friends, Dixie and Patrick. Since mid-Fall we have discussed grand ideas of how to create a pseudo-holiday shopping, cooking, eating, and enjoying each other’s company. However, this season boasts hectic schedules, and we quickly realized we were running out of time to breathe life into our holiday vision. Indeed, as last week continued to progress, our grand ideas devolved from “let’s host a full turkey dinner” to “let’s do a chili bar” to “let’s order takeout.” In other words, reality quickly set in. The best laid plans…
Our friends arrived, and we ordered Chinese food, drank beer, played games, and enjoyed an indulgently low-key, hassle-free evening. Was it the “perfect” Friendsgiving?[1] Certainly not. Did we have fun? You betcha! Regardless, of the low-maintenance, unconventional approach to our adopted holiday, we were thankful for the opportunity to slow down and dedicate intentional time to enjoy the season together.
Thanksgiving camaraderie at its finest.
Does the prospect of organizing your own Friendsgiving leave you inspired to mix things up this year? Go ahead: Try something new! Not feeling the hosting bug? Here are a few other unconventional ideas to serve up this Thanksgiving holiday:
- Spend the morning in pajamas: If your daily schedule is anything like mine, then “lounge” time is certainly at a premium. Every morning when my alarm sounds, I hit “snooze[2],” start the coffee, hop in the shower, and get ready for the busy day ahead. With this in mind, it is crucial we give ourselves permission to make time for lazily lying around in our pajamas and appreciating the often unnoticed beauties and nuances early morning has to offer. Cam’s family has a tradition of waking up, making cinnamon rolls, and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, all while lounging in their pajamas. I fully embrace this tradition, and we have embedded it as a highly-anticipated focal point of every holiday we’ve spent together. There’s nothing better than enjoying a warm cup of coffee while sitting around and shooting the breeze with some of your favorite people. In fact, it’s downright magical and just might be my favorite part of the holiday experience.
- Take a long walk: As tempting as it is to spend the whole day stuffing your face full of food[3], it can be equally rewarding to carve out time in the day to go on a family walk. Nothing quite inspires gratitude like a little outdoor time to increase your heart rate and enjoy the crisp autumn air; walking can be a great way to catch up with loved ones while getting a bit of exercise and taking in a different perspective. Last year Cam, my parents, and I bundled on layers and laced up our boots for a slow, relaxing stroll around Lake Harriet. We thoroughly appreciated soaking in the sunshine while marveling at the frozen ice, and we agreed it was the one of the most memorable parts of our holiday experience.
- Try new foods: Yes, turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing are certainly Thanksgiving staples, but why not mix it up a little this holiday by adding a new favorite into the mix[4]? I’m all about trying new recipes and experimenting to see what sticks. A few years ago, I stumbled across this recipe for Sweet Potato & Kale Salad from Cookie and Kate. As a vegetarian I’m constantly looking for new, veggie-forward dishes to add into the Turkey Day mix, and the salad turned out to be a smashing success. In fact, we loved the recipe so much it has become a common menu item over the last several years[5].
- Take the stress out of prep work: Thanksgiving is notorious for the tremendous amount of preparation necessary to pull off a feast capable of pleasing the entire family. From the planning, to the shopping, to the cooking, to the serving[6] hosting Thanksgiving is certainly not for the faint of heart. However, what if there was an easier way? Last year we decided to cater Thanksgiving dinner from Whole Foods. Offering a wide variety of options, the grocery chain allows you to pre-order your meal and pick it up in store at your desired date and time. Your food comes ready to go in a giant box with heating instructions and a cooking tray for the Turkey. While nothing beats a home-cooked meal, Whole Foods did not disappoint, and we enjoyed a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green beans teeming with all of the flavor and none of the headache. Needless to say, we are repeating this new “tradition” for 2019. No regrets.
- Kick off the holiday season with an attitude of gratitude[7]: A coworker recently shared a tradition so thoughtful I can’t help but include it in this list. As part of her annual Friendsgiving tradition her and her friends participate in a local “Adopt a Family” program and head to Target after dinner to kick off some early Christmas shopping. The families have fun grabbing various shopping carts and pursuing the aisles for items that will bring joy to families in need. What a beautiful idea: Welcoming in the upcoming Christmas holiday by intentionally choosing to put others first.
No matter how you choose to spend your holiday, be sure to savor good food and enjoy time with the people you love. After all, it isn’t what you do that matters; rather it’s the individuals you share your experiences with that make all the difference.
This holiday, let yourself indulge in the people around you: You deserve it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
[1] “Perfect.” There’s no such thing!
[2] Let’s be real: You do, too!
[3] No judgement: I’m right there with you! It’s the best.
[4] Like “neon carrots!” Don’t they sound appetizing? I don’t know what’s weirder, the crayon color or the prospect that this could be an actual vegetable. Neon carrots: Healthy (?), luminescent, and available at a Whole Foods near you!
[5] Note: The original recipe calls for butternut squash, but I prefer using sweet potatoes, as they are available in stores year-round and are much easier to cut. I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I’m going to chop off a finger while attempting to dice butternut squash, and while it may have been thematically appropriate for Halloween, I think it’s safe to say nobody wants an errant finger in their Thanksgiving salad!
[6] Oh, and did I mention the cleaning? LOTS of cleaning…
[7] Need a refresher? See last week’s “‘Carnation Pink:’ Cultivating An Attitude of Gratitude.”
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