Last year, Joshua Yang ’25 meticulously planned his Friendsgiving meal, cheffing homemade gnocchi, a few vegetable dishes, and apple pie — all of which were vegan.
He and his friend were enrolled in a graduate seminar with philosophy professor emeritus Peter Singer, a prominent vegan — who, coincidentally, published a book on turkeys ahead of this holiday season.
“We knew it’d have to be a vegan meal, and that meant we tried to do everything from scratch as much as possible,” Yang told The Daily Princetonian.
For Yang, the evening became a way of getting to know his professor more personally.
“We talked about some philosophy over the dinner table. But at some point, we were talking about just other topics,” he reflected. “He’s a big hiker — so am I — and so it was a really great chance to get to know him, especially a professor as eminent as him, outside of the lecture hall and even the seminar room,” he said.
Most Thanksgiving celebrations on campus are not quite as intellectually stimulating or elaborate as a dinner with a prominent professor, however.
Before many students leave for a much-needed break and celebrate the holiday with their families, they host intimate gatherings known as Friendsgiving. If you’ve been scrolling through #Princetagram in recent weeks, you may have seen a few celebrations.
Even for students that are going home for Thanksgiving, having a Friendsgiving celebration provides a sense of belonging, love, and support on campus. As the semester hurdles to a close, stress hangs in the air. The small — or large — feast with friends can help ease the stress.
For Daisy Yao ’28, her Friendsgiving will just be a casual get together.
“We suddenly realized Thanksgiving was coming up, so we’re just planning on having a small informal thing,” she told The Daily Princetonian.
“We won’t do like an actual meal, so probably just like sweets,” she continued. “We might go to Frist or we’ll go on the Weekend Shopper.”
For students, especially those who live too far from home to celebrate with family, having a Friendsgiving celebration is more than just eating food or playing games together — it provides an important sense of community. For Diego Alvarez Rodriguez ’27, Friendsgiving is an integral part of the holiday season spent away from family.
“I’m not necessarily able to go home over this break, so I feel like it’s nice to still have family away from the family,” he said. “It just feels right in the spirit of Thanksgiving.”
On-campus students can also take advantage of University initiatives to spread holiday cheer and some restaurants will be open in town. While Rodriguez is not yet sure what will land on his plate on Thanksgiving Day at a friend’s dinner he’s heading to, pie is certain.
“What’s for sure guaranteed, that’s never going to fail, is the pies,” he said. “I know the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunities has given out free pies to low-income students.”
But the food alone doesn’t make Friendsgiving — or Thanksgiving for that matter. These celebrations are about letting your friends know that you’re grateful for them. If you’re looking for last pre-break plans, consider hosting a Friendsgiving: have a good time, eat some good food, and let your friends know how important they are to you.
Mackenzie Hollingsworth is an assistant editor for The Prospect. She is a member of the Class of 2026 and can be reached at mh5273[at]princeton.edu.
Lily Hutcheson is a member of the Class of 2028 and a contributing writer for The Prospect and a contributing Puzzles constructor.
Amanda Hugas is a member of the Class of 2027 and a contributing writer for The Prospect. She can be reached by her email at ah0942[at]princeton.edu.
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