What’s the Difference Between Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving?

What’s the Difference Between Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving?

Everyone knows what Thanksgiving is…but have you ever heard of Friendsgiving?

In recent years, geography, mounting travel prices, and lifestyle choices have made many people choose to celebrate traditional holidays in decidedly non-traditional ways.

Friendsgiving offers individuals the chance to enjoy the best parts of Thanksgiving, including great people, great food, and a day of enjoyment, but with a group of friends rather than (or in addition to) family.

At Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar, we embrace holiday traditions of all styles, so we’re proud to offer both Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving celebrations at our establishment. Read on to learn about the key differences between these holidays and how to celebrate them both in style at Hearthstone!

Where Does Thanksgiving Come From?

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the US, celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November.

It all started with an event which is often called the “First Thanksgiving”–when the original Pilgrim settlers in the colonies enjoyed their first big celebration in the New World in 1621.

The word “thanksgiving” is derived from a word the colonists used for prayers thanking God for blessings such as military victories, or in the case of the first Thanksgiving, the first successful harvest in the new world.

That feast is said to have lasted three days and was celebrated with Pilgrims and Native Americans together.

While the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in the 1600s, the practice of celebrating it yearly wasn’t actually adopted until the late 1700s. Since then, though, it’s been a consistent part of American tradition.

thanksgiving meals

(Source: Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar Facebook page)

Thanksgiving Today

Over the years, the Thanksgiving holiday has adapted quite a bit. These days, it’s primarily seen as a holiday centered around a large meal.

Traditionally, the Thanksgiving table includes turkey, a bevy of sides including mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. For dessert, it’s traditional to serve pumpkin pie!

At Hearthstone, we love the traditional Thanksgiving feast. If you love the food but don’t relish the prep or cleanup, consider joining us on Thanksgiving! The restaurant will be open from 2-8 serving a Thanksgiving feast.

Or, consider ordering our Thanksgiving Feast To Go, which can be picked up and enjoyed at home.

Sufficient for 8-10 people, it includes organic fried turkey, cranberry relish, garlic mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, sweet potato puree, green bean mushroom casserole, apple raisin stuffing, jalapeno creamed corn, dinner rolls, and apple OR pumpkin pie.

thanksgiving summerlin

(Source: Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar Facebook page)

Thanksgiving Versus Friendsgiving

In recent years, a second term and approach to celebrating this holiday has emerged: Friendsgiving. What’s the difference between Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving?

  • Who you spend it with. The most obvious difference between Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving is who you spend it with. While technically it’s still a Thanksgiving celebration regardless of whether or not you’re related to the others at the table, many choose to refer to a gathering of friends as “Friendsgiving”.
  • The meal. While it’s not always the case, Friendsgiving is often a little bit more casual in terms of the food traditions for Thanksgiving. While you might enjoy the traditional turkey meal, you might also be more likely to celebrate with a different main dish or alternative sides.
  • When you celebrate. Since Friendsgiving can be a little more casual than a traditional Thanksgiving, it doesn’t have to be celebrated on the Thanksgiving holiday. Many choose to enjoy a Friendsgiving with buddies either before or after the holiday.

At Hearthstone, we’re opening up our restaurant for a special Friendsgiving event on Wednesday, November 21 from 5-10pm. We’ll be offering up a special Prime Rib entree, which is dry-rubbed and then slow roasted, and served with an irresistible rosemary au jus.

friendsgiving

Celebrate Thanksgiving AND Friendsgiving at Hearthstone!

At Hearthstone, we want to include every style of holiday celebration this Thanksgiving / Friendsgiving season. Here’s our upcoming roster of events:

  • Sunday, November 18th: Kids Brunch. Our season kicks off on November 18th, with a special Kid’s Thanksgiving Brunch. For just $10 per kid, they’ll enjoy a brunch menu item and a fun craft activity.
  • Wednesday, November 21: Friendsgiving. We’ll offer up a Prime Rib Special from 5-10pm.
  • Thursday, November 22: Thanksgiving. Dinner will be served at Hearthstone from 2-8pm. We’re also offering a Thanksgiving To Go feast!

Conclusion: No matter how you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend or who you choose to celebrate with, consider making Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar your destination for the holiday weekend. We’ve got an exciting lineup of menus and events at our Red Rock Casino restaurant, so make your reservations today!

How will you celebrate Thanksgiving this year?