It’s been a year of ups and downs, highs and lows. You have worked so hard and after going through so many roller coasters, it’s time to relax and bond with family this holiday season. Thanksgiving is just a few days away and many are about to reunite with their loved ones. Flights have been booked; time for long road trips has been blocked—all for a fun and meaningful Thanksgiving celebration.
But this isn’t the case for everyone. Some may not have the money to go home. Others don’t want to see family for personal reasons. A few may be sick and could not travel; while there are others who have school or work requirements to finish. Add to that the stress of the pandemic that has made traveling more difficult for the average Joe.
When you’re unable to go home to family and could just stay at your apartment or dormitory, you are most likely to look for people to hang out with. You may be an introvert but the holidays are so special to spend it alone. It’s not surprising that Friendsgiving was born, obviously a crossover between the two words “friends” and “Thanksgiving.” It has been around for about five years or so and is recently getting attention again as the holidays near. Seeing family has become extremely difficult when COVID-19 hit. People were instructed to stay at home; otherwise travel with new requirements such as a negative PCR test and a vaccination passport indicating you’ve received two shots of an mRNA vaccine.
Even though the world is opening up and traveling is getting back to normal, some people still opt to celebrate “Friendsgiving” rather than go home and be with their family. Some people love to do both, and why not. After all, Thanksgiving is about celebrating it with the people you love, may you be related by blood or not.
Here are some commonly asked questions about Friendsgiving on the Internet:
What is Friendsgiving?
As mentioned above, it is the merge of the two words “friends” and “thanksgiving” which means it’s a casual gathering of friends for Thanksgiving. It was officially added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in January 2020 after it has become so common to spend Thanksgiving with friends apart from family.
When did the informal holiday start?
According to Delish.com, the Merriam-Webster dictionary dates the earliest use of the term back in 2007. Some people think it started with the legendary sitcom “Friends” wherein Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler, and Phoebe would all celebrate Thanksgiving at Monica’s apartment in New York. Others say it came from a Baileys Irish Cream liqueur ad campaign in 2011. Wherever it started or gained popularity, the term simply means the same: a Thanksgiving dinner with friends.
When is Friendsgiving celebrated?
So does Friendsgiving clash with Thanksgiving? It is really not one over the other as Friendsgiving is not officially celebrated on the Thanksgiving date or the fourth Thursday of November. It depends on the group of friends. Some host it before Turkey Day because many will go home to their families while others celebrate it on the actual Thanksgiving date because they can’t go home and they have dinner with their peers.
What do you eat during Friendsgiving?
Friendsgiving is not at all different from Thanksgiving. The menu is the same but since you all live from different households, a potluck dinner is more common during a Friendsgiving. Friends come from different homes and backgrounds so it’s usually an interesting mix of different cuisines from all around the world. Or old family recipes they want to share with the group. Other traditional Thanksgiving meals are also served such as turkey or pie. It’s just the same as Thanksgiving in that it depends on the host what they want to serve.
Is there an established Friendsgiving tradition?
Since it’s very informal and an iteration of Thanksgiving, the Friendsgiving traditions are really the same holiday traditions we hold dear. We enjoy dinner with wine and exchange stories, play some games, and even prepare gifts for everyone at the party.
If you’re looking for a meaningful gift this Thanksgiving, now is the best time to shop because most brands have released their Black Friday deals. Take, for example, Flexispot, an ergonomic company that offers high-quality furniture at reasonable price points. Not everyone spends on furniture and doesn't realize the impact it could have on their day-to-day living. We listed down some Black Friday deals from FlexiSpot you may want to check out:
Furniture Discounts
You may get bestselling height adjustable standing desks and desk converters at a discount. Below are some of the deals to expect:
Adjustable Standing Desk Pro Series
Current Price: $369.99
Deal: From $299.99 on November 26 to 29
Kana Pro Bamboo Standing Desk
Current Price: $539.99
Deal: From $459.99 on November 26 to 29
Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk Bamboo Texture Top - 48" W
Current Price: $499.99
Deal: Save $120 off in cart
Willow Solid Wood Standing Desk
Current Price: $339.99
Deal: Save $60 off
GoRiser Standing Desk Converters ML2
Current Price: $99.99
Deal: Save Save $30 off
Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk EN1
Current Price: $339.99
Deal: Save $60 off
4.99s Challenge
Aside from these six products, you may get a gift card worth $2000 by playing the 4.99 seconds challenge ongoing now up until November 24, 2021. All you have to do is long-press the wheel and stop at 4.99 seconds. You have 15 attempts to do this. For 1.11 seconds, you will have the chance to win 150 points or a $15 coupon; a 2.33-second mark will get a chance for 10% off; 3.66 seconds for a Comhar Standing Desk, and as mentioned, 4.99 seconds is for a gift card worth $2,000.
After you get your special time, you have to input your email for a chance to win the raffle and be one of the winners to be announced on November 25, 14:00 PST.
Get Free Orders
If you checkout first at 9 AM PST and 2 PM PST on November 26 and 2, you may get your order for free. You would know you were the first if a pop-up window appears after you make your payment. You need to share it on your socials to get a refund which you will receive in 1 to 2 business days.
Get the Rewards
For every $1 spent, you would earn 1 point. A 100 points are equal to saving $10. You must be a logged-in member of the site to collect and use your points acquired. The points could be accessed at the MY Account-My Points and Rewards for up to six months before expiration. The points can also be used for new arrivals.
