As Thanksgiving came and went, there were many things to be grateful for and many people to thank. I, for one, am always thankful for my family outside of my family—my friends.

Generally, the popular notion is to gather around family during the holiday season. However, many millennials, absorbed in the hustle and bustle of everyday adulthood, don’t get to see their family members regularly—or often at all. Some have relocated away from their families, while others have families that moved farther away from them. For those of us whose families are scattered, the yearning for familiarity and belonging during this time of year is very real.

As the great girl group TLC once said, “What about your friends?” Don’t the people who uphold you and wipe your tears throughout the year deserve to give thanks with you at the end of the year? Just because we are not kin, does that mean we cannot eat, drink, and be festive together? Absolutely not. In fact, more millennials are participating in Friendsgiving celebrations each year. Many are making it a point to celebrate the holidays with people who allow them to bypass heavy dinner table interrogations and simply be themselves.

Speaking from my own experience, my sister and I host what we call a “Thanksgiving for Misfits” meal. This means we cook Thanksgiving dinner and invite local friends whose families may be absent, or who may simply be alone for the holidays. With a father in Mexico (well deserved) and a mother who passed away some time ago, we understand how important it is to feel love and togetherness during this season. Each year that we host this dinner, it is a complete success and is much appreciated by all who attend.

The joy that comes from catching up with old faces and meeting new ones is indescribable—a feeling you can only understand by attending such an event. Recently, I had the opportunity to experience this joy at our Editor-in-Chief Oliver’s Friendsgiving event, held last week.

At the event, I was referred to as a guest of honor for my pivotal role in the peach cobbler tasting contest. I was greeted by people I hadn’t seen in a very long time, and there was a sense of healing in their hugs and comfort in their eyes, knowing we were surrounded by safe faces—both familiar and new.

During the evening, I took the chance to ask a couple of attendees what Friendsgiving meant to them and why the night was so important. Here’s what they had to say:

“Friendsgiving is important to me because I feel like friendships are just as important as our relationships with our family. It’s something that we are all so thankful for, and it deserves to be celebrated. Just, you know—shining light and showing how thankful we are for each other.”

Another guest added:

“Relaxing from life and everything we go through… enjoying our good food, laughs, and our drinks! Just having peace of mind and being around to enjoy everything that you love with people that you love.”

Friendsgiving is more than a dinner party amongst friends. Friendsgiving is a reconnection and a reset. It is a well-needed unwind amid a changing season and an ever-evolving adulthood.

As a frequent participant in all things Friendsgiving, I fully recommend gathering up the crew to pass a dish and a hug to the ones who may need it most.

Friendsgiving: A Celebration of Family Beyond Family

Mourning in America: Reflections on Another Disastrous U.S. Election