Halloween is finally over and gears are shifting over to Thanksgiving time. Whether you’re a first-year student or an upperclassman, there is so much to be thankful for this season. Be thankful for your new stag-mates, having the opportunity to be a student at Fairfield University and for this beautiful fall season we get to soak in. You might be wondering how to celebrate and give thanks as a college student. Lucky for you, being in college is the perfect chance to take advantage of Friendsgiving activities. Here are some activities you and your besties can do this month!
Have a Potluck Dinner
What’s more fun than bringing everyone together with the thing that unites us most… food! Host a potluck with all your friends, all the boyfriends, girlfriends and even frenemies! Everyone can get along with some good wine and dine! Bring your special homemade mac and cheese, your family’s turkey recipe and your grandma’s pumpkin pie! Dress up and bring everyone together with delicious food, laughter and fun college dorm cooking memories for a lifetime!
Dessert Bake Off
We all have that friend that claims they make the best apple crumb. Time to put them to the test with a friend-group dessert bake off! Make the most of your townhouse kitchen, off-campus housing, or even your common room kitchen in your residence hall – anything works! Put your baking skills to the test and challenge your friends on who is the best baker! Split up desserts between pumpkin pie, apple crumb, oatmeal cookies and so much more! The best part is, you can all be the judges!
Game Night
Some of my favorite nights are staying in with my roommates and friends and popping open some Cards Against Humanity, Twister, Monopoly or even Truth or Dare. What says Friendsgiving more than just chilling out, spending a night together and bonding over fun get-to-know-you games?
Thanksgiving TV/Movie Marathon
Whoever says there are no Thanksgiving movies is a liar. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and a new slasher horror movie, “Thanksgiving,” are all right there! Give thanks by making some fresh popcorn, and maybe some jellybeans and toast and watch some good seasonal movies with your friends.
Secret “Turkey” Gift Exchange
We all know and love Secret “Santa” gift swaps. Why should it only belong to Christmas? Allow me to introduce you to the Secret “Turkey” Gift Exchange! Pull names out of a pilgrim hat and get to shopping! Buy some Thanksgiving-themed gifts like a fall blanket or a Jellycat turkey and surprise your “Turkey”! This is pretty on brand for Fairfield University, and might be a good change from the campus wild turkeys chasing after all of us.
Friendsgiving Trivia
During Friendsgiving dinner, it might be pretty fun to start up a trivia game and quiz your friends on how well you know each other. Build a “Jeopardy” game and stream it on your TV. See which team can match up the most descriptions to the right person. You’ll learn more about your stag-mates and get even closer!
“Thankful-for” Toasts
You can’t have a Friendsgiving potluck without giving thanks and inciting at least a few toasts! Go around the table and share what each of you are thankful for this season! Cheers to your sentimental friend who will eat this part up!
Group Gratitude Photo
I’m the first to admit it. I’m always the friend who forces everybody into a group photo. My iconic line is, “In ten years when we’re old, you’ll all thank me!” Take as many photos with your friends as you can, especially during the giving season. Grab that potluck group photo, trivia group photo, gift exchange group photo or bake-off group photo – these snapshots capture the most special memories to be thankful for.
With the semester coming to a close, it’s important to make the most of your time here and appreciate the friendships you’ve formed along the way. I know I’ve made so many meaningful memories with my friends this semester, and I’m not ready for it to end. I plan to follow my Friendsgiving activity list and to keep making the most of these moments – I encourage you to do the same.
