Thanksgiving is often thought to be a time to spend with family and if you are unable to spend it with family, then you spend it with friends and have a Friendsgiving. But why should that remain the case when the majority of the population is single and dining out alone is becoming normal? This Thanksgiving singles should not be afraid to dine out alone to celebrate the holiday if they will not be spending it with family or friends.
What Society Says You Must Do
The common narrative for Thanksgiving is that it must be spent with family, but if it is not spent with family then it must be with friends for a Friendsgiving. Those are both good options, but the other option is enjoying Thanksgiving alone. There is nothing wrong with being alone or spending time alone. It is actually healthy and OpenTable has seen an increase of reservations for one by solo diners. Why not check out a new restaurant and enjoy Thanksgiving by yourself? That is what I will be doing and the day has plenty to offer singles.
What Singles Can Actually Do for Thanksgiving
Singles have the opportunity to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning. The parade features large balloons of holiday features, live music, and crowds watching the parade in New York City. You can relax watching the parade with your favorite drink in hand and check out your friends’ posting pictures on social media. After watching the parade and seeing what your social media friends are up to, you can check out the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
After you see if there is anything that you want on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, get ready to go to the restaurant that you made the reservation at to celebrate Thanksgiving. There is nothing wrong with dining by yourself or to celebrate Thanksgiving alone as a single. Singles are increasingly making reservations for one on OpenTable and it is great to do something on holidays instead of staying in your apartment or house. Try a new restaurant this Thanksgiving and celebrate being single!
However, if you are not interested in exploring a new restaurant, then help out at a local food bank this Thanksgiving. Find a local food bank or church that is having a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless in your city and volunteer. Singles volunteer more than couples and it is good to help those who are less fortunate by giving your time to assist with a Thanksgiving meal at a food bank. Volunteering to help on Thanksgiving and at organizations that provide help to the homeless will give you a different view of the world that is both healthy and helpful for singles.
Depending on how you plan your day and who your football team is, enjoy watching the Thanksgiving game. You can watch the games online, on the sports, channel, or by going to a local sports bar that is playing the game. Sit back and watch football this Thanksgiving.
There are plenty of things for singles to do on Thanksgiving and ways for singles to enjoy the holiday alone. It is healthy to spend time alone. There is no reason for singles to be sad that they are not celebrating the holiday with family or was not invited to a Friendsgiving. This Thanksgiving be thankful for being single and that you are not in a bad relationship where you have to travel to your significant other’s family to have those awkward Thanksgiving dinner conversations.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment or financial advice. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). Now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon. Subscribe to Secure Single’s Substack for free!
This year you can be a champ when you bring the goods this year to Friendsgiving. If you’ve never been to a Friendsgiving, there are guidelines on how it works and how to be a great attendee to your host’s holiday event this year. Friendsgivings can be a safe place for singles to go, simply because you will be in like company!
Friendsgiving is becoming a very popular in America, most likely because Millennials aren’t getting married as early or as much as our Gen-X counterparts, and that America is the country of workaholics. Most people who celebrate Friendsgiving range from those who don’t have a family to celebrate the holidays with, or are a workaholic adult who doesn’t have time to take a trip home. Whatever the case may be, Friendsgiving is a great way to get together with people you care about to be thankful for what you have: your friends, your home, your career, and your health. Of course there are many things to be thankful for, this holiday season is just the time to come celebrate your gratitude towards life.
What To Bring
If you’ve got a friend who has organized the event, you may have been assigned an item or food category of what to bring. It might look something like this:
Last Names & What To Bring (Example):
A -I: Side Dishes
H – P: Drinks
Q – Z – Desserts
The host usually makes the big stuff, like the turkey. If you enjoy preparing meals, then this is a great opportunity to show your skill by preparing something special for Friendsgiving. If you’re not too well versed in the cooking school, stop by your local deli. If you haven’t been asked to bring something, then a bottle of wine or even cider is always appropriate.
What To Do At Friendsgiving
Depending on if the event is hosted at someone’s home, or if it is at a community center, you can always offer your hand to help clean dishes, prepare last minute touches on meals, and even to help entertain the other guests.
Portion Your Plate(s)
Keep in mind that this is a very special event, so bring your best attitude as well. Enjoy yourself, and try not to eat too much food. If you need to, take a spoonful of each dish on your plate, that way you get to try something that each person has brought and you won’t feel super full after finishing your plate. Be careful of seconds, and save some room for the pumpkin pie.
Enjoy Yourself!
The holidays were meant to be enjoyed with great company, so make sure you’ve got plans to be with people you care about during the holidays. There is no excuse to be lonely, because there are always a lot of loving people in the world. Have fun at your Friendsgiving, and remember to enjoy yourself this holiday season!
Cheers,
Danielle