Over the past few months the concept of Friendsgiving has grown and it being celebrated more and more each year. But what exactly is Friendsgiving? Well, it is exactly as it sounds! It is celebrating Thanksgiving with your friends instead of your family. This meal can occur on Thanksgiving, but many celebrate it on a different day sometime the week of Thanksgiving.

But why is Friendsgiving important? Well, while many of us had no choice in picking our family, we did pick our friends. For whatever reason we decided that these strangers were worth our attention and our friendship and we should be able to celebrate this friendship. Our friends give us an outlet when our life is getting stressful, a shoulder to cry on and a hearty laugh when we tell a joke or a funny story. While going out to dinner every now and then is also important, we should also be able to come together as a group and celebrate those around us and why they are all so great.

Additionally, if you are like me and who could never go home for Thanksgiving due to distance, Friendsgiving provides that outlet to celebrate that in which we are thankful for and support us when we cannot be surrounded by our family. Friendsgiving lets us have a hearty meal with those you love and appreciate, without getting too homesick.

Another benefit of Friendsgiving? You can throw tradition to the wind. While you may have a favorite dish, by all means bring that, but beyond that you can do whatever you want. You can play Cards Against Humanity while digesting you huge meal or you can pop in Across the Universe or another movie. You can go play football in the snow or play beer pong. You can create traditions all your own that will take on their own special meaning as you did them with your friends. Consider hosting a Friendsgiving this year or the next and take time to celebrate those people you call your friends.