The 8 Days of Thanksgiving
SO MANY WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON! Lauren Durante & Gabriella Ruggirello
W
E ALL KNOW THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, but what about the 8 Days of Thanksgiving? The week of Thanksgiving is stuffed with turkeys, holiday traditions and a cornucopia of shopping events. Are you prepared for the special demands of the launch of the holiday season? Begin with the warm glow of Friendsgiving, work your way through supporting local on Small Business Saturday, plus online sales of Cyber Monday. And finish by giving back on Giving Tuesday. There are even more days to celebrate—Drinksgiving and Sofa Sunday anyone? Here’s our guide to an extra long week of seasonal fun and giving. FRIENDSGIVING Start off the week with a Friendsgiving … or two! Carve out time for friends the weekend before Thanksgiving, or pick a day your group prefers to sit down for a shared meal. This holiday is flexible (unlike the fourth Thursday event), with the celebration revolving around your schedule (how convenient!). Typically taking place within a week before Thanksgiving Day, Friendsgiving is the perfect way to preheat your holiday season. The term Friendsgiving first appeared around 2007, but it really started to catch on in 2011, possibly from the influence of TV shows, like Friends and its popular Thanksgiving episodes featuring the cast celebrating the holiday together. As the name implies, it’s a traditional turkey day dinner with, well, friends. At first popular with college students and young adults, it’s spread to all age groups. It’s both a great alternative when you can’t get together with your family for a traditional Thanksgiving meal and an extra meal to share on another day with your chosen family. Whether it’s potluck or a full-on Thanksgiving feast, the formality and date are up to you! Just remember to save room for seconds. 42
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DRINKSGIVING Traveling can be a headache, but traveling during the holidays can be a migraine—but so worth it. Many returning home in time for a full-on extended-family turkey dinner will be traveling extra early to make sure to arrive before the carving of the bird. So, if you’re finding yourself with an extra day hanging out in your childhood bedroom, get out and meet up with friends for drinks the night before. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is known as Drinksgiving, a popular night out at local bars (in some places outpacing New Year’s Eve). With many folks returning home for the holiday, it’s the perfect time to catch up with those you won’t see on Thanksgiving Day. Drinksgiving is easier than Friendsgiving—no cooking required. Just remember to drink local and take an Uber home. THANKSGIVING Not much needs to be said about the main event. So, here are some facts to share over pie. The official Thursday for Thanksgiving has bounced around the calendar since its start in 1789. In 1939 President Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday of November to help extend the shopping season before Christmas, yet some states ignored the change. In 1941 Congress decided to make the official holiday the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is primarily an American holiday, although Canada celebrates it the second Monday in October, due to the earlier harvest there. And giving thanks is cel-
