Are you ready for this week’s festivities? Thanksgiving is next week and being a college student for a few years now, I have discovered the annual tradition of ‘Friendsgiving’. Friendsgiving is actually celebrated the weekend or Wednesday before the actual Thanksgiving or after Thanksgiving, and as the name suggests, its celebrated among friends. It is usually a potluck style gathering. Here are some of the ‘rules’ for being a perfect host and a perfect guest for Friendsgiving.

FRIENDS — “The One with Chandler in a Box” Episode 8 — Pictured: (l-r) Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

1.  The host makes the Turkey and gravy.
2. The host sets the table.
3. The rest of the dishes are divided among friends.
4. There should be potatoes.
5. Everyone should bring their favorite drinks.
6.  The host and friends should be considerate for allergies and food choices.
7. The guests should bring enough desserts.
8. Do not bring dishes that needs to be assembled in the host’s kitchen.
9. Cleanup is for everyone.
10. Leaving a ‘thank you’ note.

Friendsgiving is becoming more popular among millennials. There could be several reasons for it. Not too long ago, people used to put emphasis on having nuclear families and would make sure that during the holiday season they would spend more time with them. As the current culture evolved, the emphasis is more on building their career, making friends, and getting married late; and so friends became more like family. People are spending more time on their friendships, as this kind of relationship may even be more meaningful than family. Unlike thanksgiving, at the friendsgiving, the host can be very selective on who they invite to ensure a good time.

Friendsgiving would also help avoid expensive air travel time… or just travelling in general. One can spend an afternoon  among friends, and hangout with people who you actually like.  So if you are having a ‘friendsgiving’, it is guaranteed to be a best time.