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The Maney & LauRen Morning Show

The Maney & LauRen Morning Show

The Maney & LauRen Morning Show

Bumble And Butterball Unite To Help People Find Friendsgiving Plans

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Author LauRen Merola

While Halloween is the holiday most of us are focused on right now, Thanksgiving will be here soon, so it’s time to start making plans. And a surprising new collaboration is here to help.

Friendsgiving is a relatively new tradition that has gained popularity in recent years. This celebration involves a group of friends coming together to enjoy a Thanksgiving-style feast, usually held a few days before or after the actual holiday. While the origins of Friendsgiving are not entirely clear, it is believed to have started as a way for people who could not travel home for Thanksgiving to still enjoy a large meal with loved ones.

A recent study from Bumble finds that more than half of respondents want to expand their social circles, so the dating app wants to lend a hand. So this is fun! Bumble for Friends, their section for platonic relationships, is teaming up with Butterball, the turkey brand to launch a Friendsgiving-planning feature.

Here is what you can expect!

  • With the Friendsgiving feature, users can match with other people looking for Turkey Day plans with friends.
  • It will allow users to join someone’s Friendsgving, find friends to invite to their own holiday gathering, or collaborate to co-host a Friendsgiving with new pals.
  • The Friendsgiving feature will be available starting November 1st.
  • Butterball and Bumble are also hosting several in-person and virtual gatherings ahead of the holiday where guests can meet new friends and get cooking tips from Butterball’s team of Turkey Talk-Line experts.

“Every year we help first-time and veteran cooks to present a meal that’s ‘chef’s kiss,'” says Butterball Turkey Talk-Line expert Tyler Loranger. “And now, with Bumble For Friends, we’re helping people to expand their social networks, to integrate them into these settings, and celebrate togetherness around the holidays.”

written by

LauRen Merola Strager is a former NFL & NBA cheerleader turned radio host. LauRen is a former Miss Pennsylvania USA and is a proud wife and mother of two. She is the owner and chief editor for her fashion and lifestyle Blog “All Of The F-Words” and is a champion for the Autism community. You can read all about LauRen’s thoughts on motherhood, pageant life, and everyday life through her online content.

Spice Up Your Friendsgiving: 5 Themes to Amp Up Your Gathering

Right after Halloween, Thanksgiving arrives on the scene. Many people opt to come together with family during Thanksgiving. Yet, for those who cannot or simply prefer not to. do that,  can celebrate with Friendsgiving. It closely mirrors Thanksgiving but with a more compact guest list. It’s an occasion for gathering with your dearest friends, all leading up to the Thanksgiving festivities.

True to its name, this unofficial holiday blends “Thanksgiving” and “Friends,” offering you the chance to be in the company of cherished friends who feel like family. It gives you the freedom to extend invitations exclusively to those you genuinely appreciate and enjoy conversing with.

Some credit the influential television show Friends with inspiring the idea of spending the holiday with friends. Another theory proposes that in 2011, an advertising campaign by Baileys Irish Cream liqueur introduced the term, propelling the trend further.

Unlike Thanksgiving, which has an official date, Friendsgiving doesn’t have a fixed day. Many people tend to host it before the actual Thanksgiving Day if they plan to spend the holiday with their family. Alternatively, some might simply adopt Thanksgiving itself, renaming it Friendsgiving when celebrating with a group of friends.

When it comes to the menu, it can range from a classic Thanksgiving potluck to a more distinctive selection featuring the personal favorites of those in attendance. In a Reddit thread, someone shared their Friendsgiving menu, which featured a Mexican-inspired feast. “For our Friendsgiving we do Mexican. Pineapple chicken and shredded beef tacos. Lime sour cream, rice, corn bread, queso, guac and assorted salsas. Margaritas and Jell-O shots,” they wrote.

While the Thanksgiving season often evokes memories of family traditions, Friendsgiving provides an opportunity to establish new traditions with those close to you. Over the years, Friendsgiving has become an annual tradition for many. If you’re hosting a Friendsgiving gathering, you can enhance the event by incorporating a theme.

Take a look at some Friendsgiving themes that would make for a fun holiday event.

  • Pajama Friendsgiving

    Reach out to your friends and let them know you’re planning a Friendsgiving pajama get-together. Invite them to join in wearing their preferred pajamas, and you can make plans for the evening as it unfolds. Best of all, there’s no need to stress about dressing up for an elegant dinner.

    Cute young woman in pajamas and in sweater with a deer standing with christmas present boxes and having fun on blue background.

    ruslanshramko/ Getty Images

  • Pie Party

    You can host a Friendsgiving event with a pie-themed twist. Set a guideline where each guest brings their best homemade pie, whether it’s pecan, pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, or any other variety. To add an extra element of fun, you might even consider arranging a pie-making competition, complete with a prize for the winner. Make sure to have some props on hand to enhance the overall experience.

    Happy African American mature woman carrying Thanksgiving pie while serving food to her family in dining room and looking at camera.

    Drazen Zigic/ Getty Images

  • Name Potluck

    Elevate your Friendsgiving potluck gathering by suggesting that each guest contribute a dish starting with the same letter as their first or last name. This fun and inventive twist ensures a unique meal you won’t come across elsewhere. Offering an unconventional and exciting experience.

  • Board Night

    The options are endless when it comes to serving trays and a touch of creativity, whether it’s the timeless charcuterie board featuring brie, elegant crackers, and jams, or the trending butter board. On social media, you’ll find countless instances of people rallying their friends to each bring their own unique board creation. The best part is you don’t have to cook if it’s not your thing. Some have even crafted boards featuring items like McDonald’s or donut holes.

  • Disney Inspired

    You and your guests can bring the enchanting dishes from Disney’s animated films to life in your own kitchen. Try your hand at crafting Tiana’s beignets from The Princess and the Frog, or making Snow White’s gooseberry pie, Aurora’s birthday cake, and others. Alternatively, you can draw inspiration from a variety of movies or TV shows to fashion a unique menu for your Friendsgiving gathering.

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