Your application of Friendsgiving rules can be a little haphazard. Ours are. We know that the chief appeal of Friendsgiving is that there are no rules. Thanksgiving is full of directives like, “No picking at the turkey when it comes out of the oven,” and “Get your finger out of the mashed potatoes,” and “Please keep your pants on at the table, Uncle Frank, I don’t care how many plates of food you stuffed down your gullet!” Ok, that last one may be a little personal. But you get the gist.
Whether you are a Friendsgiving host or guest, it helps to know some general guidelines. This is especially true if you are coming as a “plus one” with someone. If you won’t know any other people there, you will already probably feel a little overwhelmed, so being a little more familiar with the tradition will make you feel more relaxed. Also, if you are hosting your first Friendsgiving, you will want to be familiar with the general rules, too. Of course, if this is going to be a new annual tradition it does not hurt to add some rules of your own in there.
- Create a New Tradition – Obviously, Friendsgiving is a tradition in itself, but do something that will be an annual event. Maybe you will finish the night with a movie or perhaps everyone writes down what they are most thankful for on paper and put them in a bowl, so each person can draw one to read.
- Host Makes the Turkey – You probably know at least one person who can tell you this firsthand. It is never a good idea to transport turkey. Whoever decides to host also accepts the responsibility of turkey preparation and cooking. The host should make the gravy, too. Don’t worry, it is not that hard.
- Everyone Brings Something – The host shouldn’t have to be stuck in the kitchen three days straight preparing and then stuck with a mound of dirty pots and pans. Everyone brings dessert or a side dish.
- No Phones at the Table – Friendsgiving is a time for friends to actually catch up face-to-face. There should be no phones at the dinner table. In fact, turn them all on silent, so no one is even tempted to run to the bathroom, so they can secretly check the call they just missed on their phone ringing from the coat pile in the bedroom.
- Consider Allergies and Dietary Restrictions – The host is usually in charge of organizing the dishes being brought. Otherwise, you will end up with 10 bowls of mashed potatoes and not a green vegetable or pumpkin pie insight. It is important to find out about allergies and restrictions and make sure everyone knows about them. Not all dishes will be able to accommodate the restriction, but there will at least be some options. Chances are good that you have at least one person consuming a vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free diet.
What are your Friendsgiving rules? Tell us in the comments.
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