Ever wondered how you’ll spend the festive season with your friends? Friendsgiving — the holiday where you gather your closest friends to celebrate the season of gratitude without the stress of traditional family gatherings. Whether you're a seasoned host or a first-timer, Friendsgiving is all about connecting, celebrating, and gratitude. There are no rules. Here we share some tips and tricks on how you can host the perfect Friendsgiving.
Make it official
Despite already knowing that your besties will be attending your Friendsgiving by default, nothing gets you in a party mood like an official invitation and RSVP. Whether it’s an invite created through Canva or a classic text message telling your guests everything they need to know about the gathering, sending out invites will make it fun and build anticipation.
Create an ambience
While you’ll be having wholesome converstaions, you can curate a chill playlist that won’t be a distraction. If you’re not confident in curating a playlist from scratch, YouTube is the perfect platform to select a playlist specific to your occasion. Lo-Fi Beats is a common favourite. Dressing up can also add to the ambience. Whether it’s a cosy pyjama party vibe or bougie glitz and glam, a themed occasion can tie the evening together. Decor plays an important role in creating an ambience for your Friendsgiving. Adding candles can create a cosy, inviting atmosphere. If you want something more fresh and playful, adding some fun florals will do the trick.
Incorporate fun activities
There are different activities for different friend groups, you just need to figure out what activity will suit your friend group. Here are a few ideas:
- Sip and paint: This has become a favourite group activity. It’s perfect for unwinding while exploring your creative side.
- Card games: There are a variety of card games that go beyond UNO and Crazy 8. Parties can be made extra fun and interactive with card games like Cards Against Humanity, Truth or Drink, Do You Know Me, and many more. Alternatively, you can download similar games on your phone.
- Karaoke: What’s a gathering without karaoke? It has become a standard procedure for any group gathering.
Food made easy
The burden of nursing a whole chicken or turkey, ensuring it reaches the perfect shade of golden brown while also being fully cooked inside, can be a bit daunting on you as the host. An easy solution is to opt for a potluck by having each friend contribute a cooked or pre-made dish for everyone to enjoy. To ensure there’s enough food for seconds, discuss what each person is planning to contribute.
Gratitude
There’s a reason it’s called Thanksgiving - in this case Friendsgiving. This is a great way to reflect on the year. Here are different ways you can incorporate gratitude into your evening:
- Go around the table and have each person say what they’re grateful for.
- Peak and pit: Have everyone share one highlight and one bad period of their year. Sharing your peak and pit helps build resilience by celebrating your ability to bounce back from setbacks.
- Have everyone write what they’re grateful for and put it up somewhere as a reminder of your celebration.
