In recent years, a new November tradition has joined the ranks of America’s cherished holiday celebrations: Friendsgiving. Blending the warmth of friendship with the familiar flavors of Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving has become a beloved occasion for many — especially younger generations, as well as people who have relocated to Estes Park to start a new career or enjoy retirement years.
Friendsgiving is a wonderful way to add a second helping of gratitude to the holiday season, and whether you are celebrating Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving, turkey is the signature food.
As a way to show our gratitude to our partners this holiday season, we would like to introduce you to RedBird Farms. We carry turkeys from them each year, and we would encourage you to support their brand, whether with us or at any other location you find them. RedBird Farms is a family-owned company in Englewood, Colo., that has been under the same ownership for 30 years.
Not only are turkeys from RedBird delicious, but the company is proud of its relationship with its employees, 60 percent of whom have been with the company for eight years or more, with production supervisors on staff averaging 10 years or more.
RedBird is part of Colorado Proud, a program that promotes the purchase of locally grown, raised, and processed food and agricultural products to support Colorado’s economy and local farmers, ranchers, greenhouses, manufacturers, and processors.
If you care about ethically produced foods and businesses that support their employees, consider buying a RedBird turkey for your Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving tables.
Click here to place your order for a RedBird turkey today for pickup beginning Nov. 21.
The origins of Friendsgiving
We all know the story of the pilgrims and the feast of the first Thanksgiving, but what exactly is Friendsgiving, and how did it evolve from a casual get-together into a cultural phenomenon?
While the word Friendsgiving feels like it’s been around forever, it’s actually a relatively recent addition to our holiday vocabulary. The earliest known mentions date to the early 2000s, and it may have had roots in the TV shows “Seinfeld” and “Friends.”
Festivus first appeared on Seinfeld in the episode titled “The Strike,” which originally aired on Dec. 18, 1997. In the ninth and final season of the show, the character Frank Costanza, played by Jerry Stiller, explained to the ensemble of friends the anti-commercialism holiday he invented, which includes unique traditions like an unadorned aluminum pole, the “airing of grievances,” and “feats of strength.”
Building on that, in a 2007 episode of “Friends,” the group celebrated Thanksgiving together, though the word Friendsgiving itself wasn’t yet coined until it appeared in a Tweet that year. The term then began to appear on social media, often referring to informal Thanksgiving-style dinners shared among friends before or after the official holiday.
By 2011, the word had entered mainstream use, thanks to a holiday ad campaign for the Butterball turkey brand, which gave the term commercial traction.
From there, it spread quickly across college campuses, urban apartments, and online recipe boards. Today, Friendsgiving is recognized by dictionaries and celebrated nationwide, marking a shift in how Americans express gratitude and community.
How Friendsgiving differs from Thanksgiving
The feast of Friendsgiving carries the spirit of Thanksgiving — gratitude, good food, and togetherness — but with a modern twist.
While Thanksgiving is traditionally a family-centered holiday, often steeped in long-held rituals and recipes, Friendsgiving tends to be more flexible, inclusive, and creative.
One difference is that Friendsgiving is not tied to a specific date. Many people celebrate it in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, especially if they plan to travel home for the main holiday. Others host it after Thanksgiving, taking advantage of leftover ingredients or simply extending the season of gratitude.
Another key difference lies in the atmosphere. Friendsgiving is often more casual, collaborative, and stress-free. There’s no pressure to create a perfect Norman Rockwell-style feast or to follow family traditions. Instead, the menu often takes a potluck approach, where everyone brings a dish to share, resulting in an eclectic spread that reflects each guest’s personality and background. It’s not uncommon to see traditional turkey and stuffing served alongside vegan lasagna, international dishes, or creative cocktails (specific foods carried by Country Market).
Even the tone of the gathering differs. While Thanksgiving can sometimes bring family tensions or the formality of multigenerational traditions, Friendsgiving tends to focus on friendship, laughter, and gratitude among chosen family — the people you’ve gathered along life’s journey rather than those you were born to.
The heart of both: gratitude and connection
Despite their differences, Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving share the same emotional foundation: gratitude. Both holidays center around pausing from the busyness of life to share a meal and reflect on what we’re thankful for. Whether that gratitude is expressed in a toast, a shared memory, or a collective laugh, the essence remains the same.
Many people find Friendsgiving to be an opportunity to express gratitude for the people who form their daily support system — the friends who are there through moves, milestones, and Monday mornings. In that way, Friendsgiving complements traditional Thanksgiving rather than replacing it. It widens the circle of appreciation.
A reflection of modern life
Friendsgiving also reflects broader social shifts. As people move farther from their hometowns for education, work, or adventure, many find themselves separated from family during the holidays. Friendsgiving offers an alternative — a home away from home.
It’s also a mirror of generational values. Millennials and Gen Z, who helped popularize Friendsgiving, tend to value community, inclusivity, and shared experience. The potluck style of Friendsgiving embodies that spirit: everyone contributes, everyone partakes, and no one bears the full burden of hosting. It’s a democratic feast where culinary creativity and collaboration shine.
Moreover, Friendsgiving celebrations often adapt to the times. In recent years, hosts have incorporated themes such as sustainable dining, cultural fusion menus, or even “Friendsgiving for a Cause,” where guests bring donations for local charities or food banks. These variations reflect a generation that wants their gatherings to have meaning beyond the meal.
The evolution of gratitude
Ultimately, Friendsgiving isn’t a replacement for Thanksgiving; it’s an evolution of it. Just as Thanksgiving has transformed over centuries, from a 17th-century harvest celebration to a national holiday of thanks, Friendsgiving represents the next chapter in America’s story of gratitude and community.
Both holidays remind us of a timeless truth: gratitude thrives in connection. Whether gathered around a long dining table filled with family heirloom dishes or a coffee table laden with mismatched plates and laughter, what matters most is the company we keep and the love that fills the room.
As autumn’s chill deepens and the scent of cinnamon and sage fills the air, you might find yourself celebrating both Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving this year — two opportunities to pause, to share, and to give thanks for the many flavors of friendship and family that make life so rich.
Next week, we will look at some of the other foods associated with Thanksgiving, including cranberries, stuffing (also known as dressing), and pumpkin pie.
We at the Country Market are so grateful to our community and the outstanding members who have helped us to remain a staple since 1978. We look forward every year to being able to help all our families celebrate their holiday season, and it brings so much joy to our hearts to know we can be a small part of everyone’s celebration of gratitude.
Thank YOU for being the reason for our season.