Thanksgiving to Friendsgiving

Thanksgiving is a very common tradition within the United States. It is one of the few federally-recognized holidays that is neither religion-based nor commemorates a historic event, such as the Fourth of July.

It generally celebrates giving thanks and enjoying time spent with our relatives. Historically, schools have taught us that the first Thanksgiving was in celebration of the first successful harvest for the pilgrims and was a way to share their appreciation to the “Indians” for teaching them how to farm the land. Thus, we celebrate each Thanksgiving to honor those Native Americans who helped us survive.

While historians have proven that this story, while nice, is completely false, that does not mean that Thanksgiving is a holiday that should be ignored.

President Abraham Lincoln came up with the “pilgrims and Indians” Thanksgiving story to try and alleviate some of the familial tensions during the Civil War. His intention was to create a holiday as a means of bringing families together, and that is something the U.S. needs now more than ever.

The past year of political tensions have only risen higher and higher between the two parties… and for many families, as well. Thanksgiving is a day meant to celebrate what we have in our lives, but perhaps it can also be a way to set aside differences and enjoy being together.

For some, however, such a thing is not an option, whether it is for financial or personal reasons.

Within the Pierce College community, and within many parts of the United States, Thanksgiving has taken a new path of “Friendsgiving.” Generally celebrated the weekend before traditional Thanksgiving Day, it is meant for friends to celebrate their own way, without the pressures and judgements that can sometimes arise when spending time with relatives who have certain expectations or beliefs.

It is a growing trend, especially among millennials, that has started to get attention, with places such as grocery stores starting to cater toward it by advertising their deals on social media.

While some may balk at the idea of taking away the family aspect that has become so ingrained with the Thanksgiving tradition, it shows that the concept itself is being taken somewhere that could be more effective.